Shakhadri can take part in Urs: SC

A Bench of Justices R V Raveendran and A K Patnaik granted the plea on the submissions made by Shakhadri’s counsel Jaiveer Shergill and Neela Gokhale, alleging that the  government was not allowing him to perform rituals at the place.

The court referred to its decision of December 1, 2008, through which status quo was ordered to be maintained at the shrine, to direct the state government to allow Shakhadri to perform “urs”.

“In view of the order, (December 1, 2008), the person offering religious activities at the shrine continues to be associated with sajjda, including urs,” the court said.

The Bench also warned the state from interfering in the court order reminding it that there has already been a contempt proceedings pending against the chief secretary.

In his plea, Shakhadri submitted that the state was not allowing “sajjda” from participating in the three-day “urs” in a departure from convention since 1975. “The entire rituals are to be performed by the Sajjada Nasheen as per the practice prevalent prior to June 1975...

Further, SC had on December 1, 2008, directed the status quo according to the order dated 25.2.1989 passed by the commissioner for religious and charitable endowments in Karnataka,” Shergill said alleging that the state had violated rights of the petitioner.