- विज्ञापन -
Jaipur: The hearing regarding the claim over a Shiva temple allegedly located within the Ajmer Dargah premises was deferred on Saturday, with the next session scheduled for August 30. Additional police personnel were deployed at the court to ensure security, as the judicial officer was on leave and many staff members were also absent due to a mass leave.
Advocate Yogendra Ojha explained that the case was postponed because of these administrative reasons. Earlier applications from the Dargah Committee and the Minority Affairs Department have been presented and will be discussed in the upcoming hearing.
The petition was initiated by Vishnu Gupta, the National President of Hindu Sena from Delhi, who seeks the right to conduct uninterrupted worship at the Sankat Mochan Shiva Temple, which he claims is situated within the Dargah grounds of Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti. Gupta claims to possess an ancient Sanskrit text, ‘Prithviraj Vijay,’ dating back to 1250 AD, which references a Shiva temple in Ajmer. He plans to present this book and its Hindi translation in court.
Gupta also argued that the Ajmer Dargah does not fall under the protections of the Places of Worship Act, as it is classified as an “authorised religious place.” He is also asserting that a Supreme Court lawyer will support this position with additional evidence. Due to security concerns, Gupta has been provided police protection.
The court had initially accepted Gupta’s petition in November 2024, issuing notices to various authorities including the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Dargah Committee, and the Archaeological Survey of India. Several parties, including local committees and individuals, have filed applications to participate in the case.
Gupta also referred to a 1911 book, ‘Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive,’ which claims that debris from an ancient temple was incorporated into the construction of the Dargah, and that a Jain temple once stood within the sacred area.
