Mosques, dargahs demolished in Gujarat’s Gir Somnath were illegal : Gir Somnath DC

• Gujarat Administration informs the Supreme Court

• Muslim community had alleged violation of the SC orders

New Delhi – Digvijay Singh Jadeja, the District Collector of Gir Somnath, Gujarat, informed the Supreme Court that mosques and dargahs were demolished as part of an anti-encroachment drive. All the structures were illegal, and hence there was no need for permission to carry out the demolition. In such a situation, this does not amount to contempt of the Supreme Court’s order.

1. The statement was given by the District Collector of Gir Somnath in response to the contempt petition filed by the Muslim community. The Muslim side had argued that the administration violated the Supreme Court’s bulldozer ban order. On 17^thSeptember 2024, the Supreme Court had prohibited the demolition of structures in public places across the country, except for encroachments.

2. On 27^thSeptember 2024, several illegal structures, including prominent dargahs such as Haji Mangroli Shah Peer Dargah, Hazrat Mainpuri, Sipahsalar, and Mastan Shah Bapu were demolished in Gir Somnath. This large-scale action faced resistance from the Muslim community; however, the Police managed to complete the operation peacefully and detained around 70 people during the process.