A plea has been filed to temporarily halt Prime Minister Modi’s ceremonial chadar offering at Ajmer Sharif Dargah, arguing it undermines judicial independence amidst an ongoing legal dispute over the site’s origins. The Hindu Sena alleges the Dargah is built on a former Shiva temple and seeks an Archaeological Survey of India investigation.
Ajmer: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over a ceremonial ‘chadar’ to be offered on his behalf at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, a plea has been filed seeking a temporary halt to the offering. The petition, submitted by Hindu Sena President Vishnu Gupta, argues that the act undermines judicial independence while a legal dispute over the Dargah’s origins is still pending.
The plea was filed in a pending suit at an Ajmer court, where the Hindu Sena has claimed that the Ajmer Sharif Dargah was built over the remains of a Shiva temple. Gupta, who is the plaintiff in the original suit, contends that sending the chadar to the “disputed structure” while the case is unresolved interferes with the judiciary’s impartiality and the right to a fair hearing.
Gupta’s petition states,
“Giving any political legitimacy to the disputed structure by sending a Chadar will not only hamper the court process but will also taint the court’s independence, due to which the entire case will become baseless.”
The matter is set to be heard by Civil Judge Manmohan Chandel on January 4 at 10 AM.
Prime Minister Modi has been sending a chadar to the Ajmer Sharif Dargah every year since 2014, marking this year as the 10th consecutive offering. On January 2, 2025, the chadar was handed over to Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who will present it during the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
Rijiju described the gesture as reflecting “deep respect for India’s rich spiritual heritage and the enduring message of harmony and compassion.”
The Hindu Sena’s primary suit, filed in the name of Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman, alleges that the Dargah complex was built by converting ancient Hindu temples. The petition calls for:
- An Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) investigation into the site.
- Reconstruction of a Shiva temple, identified as Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev, at the location after removing the existing structure.
- Examination of a Shiva Linga, which Gupta claims is located beneath an underground passage within the Dargah complex.
With the plea now before the Ajmer court, all eyes are on the upcoming hearing. The case underscores the delicate balance between religious practices, political gestures, and judicial processes in India.
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