New Delhi, Dec 22: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to urgently hear a plea seeking a stay on the ceremonial offering of a ‘chadar’ at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, refusing to intervene ahead of the scheduled ritual.
Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju is set to offer the ‘chadar’ on December 22 during the 814th annual Urs of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti, representing the prime minister.
The plea was mentioned before a special vacation bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, which also included Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
“We are seeking a stay on the offering of the ‘chadar’ at Ajmer Sharif Dargah by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our plea regarding Sankat Mochan Mandir there is pending,” advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, appearing for Hindu Sena, told the court.
Seeking urgent listing of the matter, Sinha argued that the offering would prejudice Hindu devotees’ claims over the site. The bench, however, declined the request.
“No listing today,” the chief justice said.
Hindu Sena had filed a suit in an Ajmer court in November last year, claiming that the dargah was constructed over a pre-existing temple.
The ceremonial offering of a ‘chadar’ at Ajmer Sharif has been a long-standing tradition followed by successive prime ministers, cutting across political and ideological lines.
