Demolition in Gir Somnath district: Supreme Court rejects plea for conducting ‘Urs’ from Feb 1-3

The Supreme Court on Friday (January 31) rejected an application seeking permission to conduct ‘Urs’ festival from February 1 to February 3 at a now-demolished dargah in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district.A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih noted the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Gujarat authorities, that entire unauthorised constructions, including temples on the land belonging to the government, was demolished.

Mehta said that no activities, including Hindu religious rituals, were permitted on the given land which was earlier under encroachment.

The counsel appearing for the applicant said there was a dargah, which was demolished by the authorities.Also Read: SC hears plea over demolition of Muslim structures in Gujarat, declines to halt actions

He said the tradition of conducting ‘Urs’ festival at the dargah has been going on for many years and the authorities. He said the authorities denied permission for it on January 30.

The bench said the prayer in the application cannot be granted without hearing the main matter.

On January 27, the top court said that it would hear after three weeks the pleas, including a contempt petition against the Gujarat authorities for allegedly demolishing residential and religious structures in Gir Somnath district without its prior nod.