Dargah Trust approaches Circuit Bench seeking permission for Urus at Vishalgad Fort; Next hearing on 28 May

(‘Urus’ refers to a festival organised on the death anniversary of a Muslim religious figure.)

(‘Circuit Bench’ refers to a temporary location of a court where High Court judges hear cases for a specified period.)

Kolhapur (Maharashtra) – The Archaeology Department had issued an order banning animal sacrifice at Vishalgad Fort in Shahuwadi taluka. Under the ‘Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1962’, cooking and consumption of food within fort premises had also been prohibited. Implementing this order, the district administration banned the celebration of the Urus. Opposing this decision, the ‘Dargah Trust’ filed a petition before the Circuit Bench seeking permission to celebrate the Urus and conduct animal sacrifices. The Government strongly opposed the plea. The next hearing on the matter will take place on 28 May.

No animal sacrifice took place at the fort last year

Last year, the then Superintendent of Police had ordered that no festival or celebration would be allowed at the fort. At that time, when the Dargah Trust approached the Bombay High Court, the Court permitted animal sacrifice for Bakri Eid. The district administration thereafter approached the Supreme Court against that ruling. Earlier incidents were cited before the Court; however, the Supreme Court refused to conduct an urgent hearing in the matter. At that time, owing to the Archaeology Department’s order and conditions imposed by the district administration, no animal sacrifice took place at Vishalgad Fort.

Present situation

This year too, on 25 May, the ‘Hindu Ekta Andolan’ staged a protest outside the District Collector’s office demanding that permission for the Urus at Vishalgad Fort be denied. Opposing this, the Dargah Trust moved the Circuit Bench. Hearings were conducted twice on 26 May. After hearing from both sides, the Court scheduled the next hearing for 9 a.m. on 28 May. At that time, the Archaeology Department will present its arguments. During the hearing held on 26 May, the Government informed the Court about the Archaeology Department’s order concerning all forts in the State and also stated that prohibitory orders at the fort remain in force until 2 June.