The Supreme Court of India has intervened in the demolition of the Hazrat Satpeer Sayed Baba Dargah in Nashik, Maharashtra, by staying the demolition notice issued by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC). The Court also sought an explanation from the Registrar General of the Bombay High Court regarding the delay in listing a writ petition filed on April 7, 2025, challenging the demolition notice.
The Dargah Trust had submitted the writ petition on April 7, seeking to quash the NMC’s demolition notice dated April 1, which mandated the structure’s demolition within 15 days. Despite repeated attempts by the Trust’s counsel to have the matter listed urgently, the Bombay High Court did not hear the petition by April 16. On the night of April 15–16, local authorities initiated the demolition, leading to clashes between the police and a crowd that gathered in protest.
In response, the Supreme Court, comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi, expressed concern over the delay and the urgency of the matter. The Court remarked that it was “unable to understand” the reasons for the delay and emphasized the seriousness of the situation. The Court directed the Bombay High Court’s Registrar General to provide a detailed report on why the petition was not listed promptly and scheduled the next hearing for April 21, 2025.
This intervention highlights the Court’s commitment to ensuring timely judicial proceedings, especially in matters involving religious structures and community sentiments.
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