AJMER, Rajasthan – A civil court in Ajmer is set to hear arguments on August 30 concerning a petition filed by the Hindu Sena, a right-wing organization, asserting the existence of a Shiva temple beneath the revered Dargah Sharif of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. The scheduled hearing on July 19th was postponed due to the presiding judge’s absence and a judicial boycott by municipal corporation employees.
The petition, filed by Hindu Sena President Vishnu Gupta, alleges that the Ajmer Dargah, which houses the mortal remains of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, a prominent 13th-century Sufi leader, was constructed after the demolition of a Shiva temple. Gupta has requested a survey of the Dargah premises and permission to conduct Hindu prayers within.
He has also sought to rename the Dargah Sharif as “Bhagwan Shri Sankat Mochan Mahadev Virajman Temple,” drawing parallels to similar ongoing disputes regarding mosques in Kashi (Varanasi) and Mathura.
This contentious legal move comes just ahead of the 813th Urs (annual death anniversary) of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. It also follows recent national outrage over the shooting deaths of five individuals who were protesting a survey at the Sambhal Shahi Masjid in Uttar Pradesh, another site claimed by Sangh Parivar organizations.
Legal experts have voiced strong criticism regarding the court’s decision to accept the petition and issue notices. They argue that this action contravenes established legal precedents, particularly the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991. This Act explicitly prohibits the conversion of any place of worship from its religious character as it existed on August 15, 1947, with the sole exception being the Ayodhya dispute. Furthermore, legal scholars point out that under the Indian Evidence Act (Bharatiya Sakshya Abhiyan), the burden of proof lies with the party asserting a claim over land currently in the possession of another. Despite these existing legal frameworks, the court has decided to proceed with the hearing and has now extended the proceedings for detailed arguments.
The Dargah Committee and various Muslim organizations have vehemently opposed the petition, asserting that it is an attempt to disrupt communal harmony and peace in the region. They argue that the Places of Worship Act of 1991 should prevent such a petition from being heard. In light of the sensitive nature of the case, security measures in Ajmer have been significantly heightened, with increased police presence around the court complex and across the city.
