HC issues notices to Guj Govt, AMC on dargah issue

Ahmedabad, July 18 (UNI) The Gujarat High Court today issued notices to state government and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by All Gujarat Minorities Association seeking restoration of dargah of Sufi Poet Vali Gujarati here.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Y R Meena and Justice Akil Kureshi, issued notices to the state and AMC, which are returnable by August 13.

A PIL was filed by All Gujarat Minorities Association, through its secretary Pathan Firozkhan Ahmedkhan, seeking restoration of dargah.

Advocate Dr Mukul Sinha, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the riotous mob, supported by the ruling party, had gone on rampage and demolished the dargah on February 28, 2002.

Adv Sinha submitted that after demolishing the dargah, the mob had constructed a make-shift mandir 'Hulladiya Godhariya Hanuman', which was later removed by the AMC.

According to petitioner, Vali Gujarati, as he was popularly known, was a renowned Sufi Saint Poet. Therefore, it is essential to protect and preserve the historical heritage and culture of the country.

The petitioner stated that they had made several attempts in the past for restoration of the shrine and had approached the government, AMC and even the NHRC, but none came forward to help them in restoration of the dargah.

UNI