Controversial Suit Seeks to Reclaim Ajmer Dargah as Hindu Temple

A court in Ajmer has refused to hear a suit demanding the declaration of the Ajmer Dargah as a Shiv temple, citing a lack of jurisdiction. Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta filed the suit claiming the dargah was built over ancient temple ruins. The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 10. Muslim leaders condemned the suit, calling it an attempt to disrupt communal harmony.

A court in Ajmer on Wednesday refused to hear a civil suit seeking to declare the mausoleum of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti as a Shiv temple, stating it had no jurisdiction over the matter.

The suit, filed by Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta, claimed that the shrine was built on top of temple ruins and should be declared Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Temple. The suit also requested the annulment of the act governing the dargah and the right of worship for Hindus, along with a scientific survey by ASI.

Gupta's counsel Shashi Ranjan said the plaintiff conducted two years of research, asserting that Muslim invaders destroyed a Shiv temple to build the dargah. The court adjourned the matter, with the next hearing set for October 10.

Meanwhile, Syed Sarwar Chishti, Secretary of Anjuman Syed Zadgan, condemned the suit as a divisive attempt to fracture communal harmony, and Muzzafar Bharti of the United Muslim Forum Rajasthan deemed it a violation of the Places of Worship Act 1991. Both leaders urged action against the petitioner.

(With inputs from agencies.)