New Delhi, Dec 22: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the offering of a ceremonial ‘chadar’ at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, rejecting an urgent plea moved by a Hindu outfit.
The request was mentioned before a special vacation bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with Justice Joymalya Bagchi also on the bench.
Advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, representing Hindu Sena, urged the court to take up the matter immediately, arguing that the ritual would adversely affect a pending claim by Hindu devotees over the site.
“Our plea regarding Sankat Mochan Mandir there is pending,” Sinha told the bench, seeking a stay on the offering.
The chief justice declined the request, saying, “No listing today.”
Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is scheduled to offer the ‘chadar’ at the tomb of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti on December 22 during the 814th annual Urs, on behalf of the prime minister.
Hindu Sena had approached an Ajmer court last year, claiming the dargah stands on the remains of a temple. The matter remains pending before the lower court.
Offering a ‘chadar’ at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah has been a customary practice observed by prime ministers over the years, regardless of political affiliation.
