In a significant intervention, the Supreme Court has stayed the demolition notice issued by the Nashik Municipal Corporation for the Hazrat Saatpeer Sayed Baba Dargah and pulled up the Bombay High Court for failing to list the shrine’s urgent plea. The court sought a detailed report from the registrar general of the high court, questioning why a writ petition filed on April 7 was not listed for hearing.
Shockingly, the dargah at Kathe Galli in Nashik was reportedly razed by civic authorities during the night of April 15–16, just hours before the Supreme Court hearing on the matter took place at noon on April 16.
A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Joymala Bagchi, taking note of the urgency and the allegations made by senior advocate Navin Pahwa—who represented the dargah trust—observed that “extraordinary measures” were warranted. Pahwa stated that daily efforts were made to have the case heard by the Bombay High Court, but it was “consistently declined.”
The apex court, taking the submission seriously, said, “We are unsure of the statement made and that the high court would not have listed the case despite repeated requests. This is a serious statement and the counsel shall take and feel responsibility for the consequence of such a statement.”
The Supreme Court has now directed the Bombay High Court’s registrar general to provide a report detailing the listing status of the petition. It also sought a response from the Nashik Municipal Corporation and other authorities involved.
The court’s interim stay on the April 1 demolition notice comes amid growing concerns over procedural lapses and religious sensitivities. The matter will next be heard on April 21.
