Follow orders on shifting 12th-century dargah, says Telangana high court

HYDERABAD: The Telangana high court on Monday directed authorities in Rajanna Sircilla district to strictly adhere to existing court orders in connection with the shifting of the 12th-century Dargah Hazrath Syed Tajuddin Khaja Bagh Sawar from its original location within the premises of the Sri Rajarajeswara Swamy Temple in Vemulawada.

The matter has come up in the context of ongoing works to enhance facilities for devotees at the temple.


Justice B Vijaysen Reddy issued the direction while hearing a petition challenging the relocation of the dargah and the barricading of its original site on the temple premises.

The court directed the state govt, the Waqf Board, and the district and temple authorities to file their counters. The case has been posted to March 16 for further hearing.

Advocate general A Sudarshan Reddy, appearing for the state, submitted that the relocation was undertaken as part of the temple's development plan. He informed the court that the dargah, along with a couple of other religious structures, had been shifted to a new site with a larger area, and placed photographs before the court in support of the submission.

Appearing for the petitioner, counsel Zeeshan Adnan Mahmood objected to the relocation, contending that the consent of the dargah's mutawalli for the shift was not valid as it was contrary to provisions of the Waqf Act. He urged the court to direct authorities to protect the dargah at its original location. Senior counsel L Ravichander also submitted that the relocation was a part of upgrading the temple.

After recording the submissions, the judge declined to pass interim orders and adjourned the matter.