Civil Judge (Junior Division) Man Mohan Chandel issued the notice, with the next hearing scheduled for December 20.
Rajasthan: On November 27, a court in Ajmer issued a notice to the defendants (representing the Muslim side) in a civil suit alleging that the Ajmer Dargah in Rajasthan was built over a Shiva temple. The suit demands that the site be declared the Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman Temple.
Civil Judge (Junior Division) Man Mohan Chandel issued the notice, with the next hearing scheduled for December 20.
The suit, filed by Hindu Sena President Vishnu Gupta through advocate Shashi Ranjan Kumar Singh, seeks the removal of the Dargah Committee from the premises. It also requests that the Archaeological Survey of India conduct a survey of the site.
The Ajmer Dargah is the tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. According to the plea, the roof design of the main entrance resembles a Hindu structure, suggesting the site was originally a temple.
“The materials and style of these chatrees clearly reveal their Hindu origin. The intricate surface carvings are hidden under layers of paint and whitewash, which, if removed, would expose their true identity,”
the plea states.
The petition further claims that historical records do not show the Dargah was built on vacant land. Instead, evidence suggests the presence of a Mahadeva temple and Jain temples where Hindus once worshipped.
In response to a petition alleging that a Shiva temple exists within the Ajmer Dargah, according to Syed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council.
“The concerned parties, including the Dargah Committee, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the Ministry of Minority Affairs, have been issued notices,” he told media.
“As a descendant of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, I have not been made a party to the case. We are in touch with our legal team.”
Chishti condemned the increasing number of claims made by various groups over mosques and dargahs in the country.
“These incidents are becoming more frequent. Almost every other day, we hear of groups asserting ownership over mosques and dargahs. This trend is detrimental to our society and the nation as a whole. India is emerging as a global power, yet we remain entangled in temple-mosque controversies,”
he remarked.
He called for the Central Government’s intervention, suggesting that new laws and guidelines be established to prevent such claims on religious sites.
“Ajmer has a history spanning 850 years. I urge the Indian government to step in. We need new legislation and clear guidelines to ensure that religious institutions like these are protected. Even in 2022, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat asked how long we will continue searching for Shivalayas in mosques, and I agree with him,” Chishti added.
Earlier this month, a survey team visiting the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh, encountered stone-pelting by some “anti-social elements” during an inspection amid heavy police presence. The survey followed a petition by senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain, who claimed the mosque was originally a temple.
The incident on November 24, during the ASI’s examination of the Mughal-era mosque, resulted in the deaths of four people and left several others injured, including officials and locals.
A similar survey had been conducted on November 19, closely monitored by local police and members of the mosque’s management committee.
The suit, therefore, seeks a directive for the Union government to reconstruct the Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Temple at the disputed site.
