The Supreme Court stayed the demolition notice issued to a Dargah in Nashik, granting interim relief to the petitioner. The Court also sought a report from the Bombay High Court on why the plea was not listed for urgent hearing.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court issued an interim stay on the demolition notice from the Nashik civic body regarding the Hazrat Saatpeer Sayed Baba dargah and requested a report from the Bombay High Court concerning the non-listing of the shrine’s plea.
Sources indicate that the structure was demolished by civic personnel just hours before the scheduled court hearing.
This action by the civic body at Kathe Galli in Nashik reportedly occurred during the night of April 15-16.
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The Supreme Court hearing took place on April 16 at noon.
A bench comprising Justices P S Narasimah and Joymala Bagchi noted that the petition had been filed in the high court on April 7 but had not been addressed.
The bench ordered, scheduling the matter for April 21,
“In the meanwhile, there shall be a stay of notice dated April 1, 2025, issued by the respondent number 1 – Nashik Municipal Corporation as prayed for,”
The court’s “extraordinary measure” was prompted by senior advocate Navin Pahwa, who represented the dargah management and claimed that despite persistent efforts, the matter had not been listed in the high court.
The bench remarked in its April 16 order,
“We have taken this extraordinary measure in view of the specific statement of the senior counsel that efforts were made every day for getting the case listed. We are unsure of the statement made and that the high court would not have listed the case despite repeated requests. This is a serious statement and the counsel shall take and feel responsibility for the consequence of such a statement,”
The Supreme Court directed the registrar general of the Bombay High Court to provide a report regarding the listing of the petition. While seeking a response from the Nashik Municipal Corporation, the court acknowledged Pahwa’s emphasis on the “urgency in this matter,” as the religious structure was at risk of demolition.
He noted that a writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution had been filed in the high court on April 7, 2025, and he had been awaiting the listing since April 8.
The Supreme Court recorded Pahwa’s submission,
“It is specifically stated that the high court has declined to list the matter ever since,”
The bench added,
“We are unable to understand as to what transpired from April 9, till today. Counsel submit that they have been trying every day.”
The bench subsequently sought responses from the municipal body and other relevant authorities.