HC refuses to stop relocation of dargah from Vemulawada temple
Directs government to file its detailed counter
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday declined to grant status quo orders on a writ challenging the proposed relocation of Dargah Hazrath Syed Tajuddin Khaja Bagh Sawar from within the premises of Sri Rajarajeshwara Swamy Temple, Vemulawada.
The single bench of Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy, while refusing the interim relief, directed the government to file its detailed counter by April 8, to which date the case stands adjourned.
The petition was filed by Md. Nazima of Gandhinagar, Vemulawada, who contended that the temple EO and the district collector are illegally fencing, barricading and attempting to relocate the approximately 800-year-old dargah, situated within the precincts of the shrine, to another location without obtaining the mandatory permission of the State Waqf Board. He averred that the authorities had failed to follow the prescribed procedure under the Waqf Board Act before undertaking the shifting.
Appearing for the petitioner, Zeeshan Adnan Mahmood urged the court to pass status quo orders restraining the relocation and renovation work pertaining to both the temple and the dargah.
The court, however, declined to grant the relief and directed the government to place its response on record. The relocation of the dargah is stated to be part of a broader exercise in which other Hindu religious structures within the temple complex are also being shifted to a larger and more secure site in connection with the ongoing renovation of the temple. In addition to the interim application seeking status quo, the counsel filed separate interlocutory applications seeking the Muthawalis, Baridaris and other persons responsible for the upkeep of the dargah be impleaded as parties to the writ petition. The court did not pass orders on the applications.
The counsel brought to the court’s notice an allegation that Intelligence officials had been contacting and threatening the petitioner on account of her having filed the writ seeking a stay on the relocation. The court took note of the submission. The case is listed on April 8 for filing of counter by the government.
