Archive · 6 Jan 2026
SC Dismisses PIL on PM's Ajmer Dargah Chadar Offering
The Supreme Court dismissed a case that asked to stop the Prime Minister from offering a special cloth (chadar) at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, a Sufi shrine.
The court said this issue couldn't be decided under the Constitution's Article 32.
The people who filed the case said this practice is not legal and goes against the country's secular principles.
They also mentioned that the shrine's historical figure might have helped foreign invaders long ago.
The court advised them to take this matter to a lower court instead.
Meanwhile, a government minister offered a chadar on behalf of the Prime Minister during a special event at the Dargah.
The court also said that the order will not affect a pending civil suit that claims the shrine was built over a Shiva temple.
There are other similar cases in different courts about the religious character of places of worship.
Supreme Court dismissed a PIL challenging PM Modi's ceremonial chadar offering at Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
Court found the matter not justiciable under Article 32 of the Constitution.
Petitioners argued the practice is unconstitutional and undermines secular governance.
Court advised petitioners to pursue their pending civil suit in Ajmer.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju offered a chadar on behalf of PM Modi during the 814th Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India, Jitender Singh, Vishnu Gupta, Kiren Rijiju, PM Narendra Modi
- What
- Dismissal of PIL challenging PM's ceremonial chadar offering at Ajmer Sharif Dargah
- When
- Monday, December 22, 2025 (specific date of offering)
- Where
- New Delhi, Ajmer Sharif Dargah
- Why
- Court found the matter not justiciable under Article 32 of the Constitution
Petitioners' View
Government/Court View
Constitutionality of the Practice
Petitioners' View
The practice is unconstitutional and undermines secular governance.
Government/Court View
The matter is not justiciable under Article 32 of the Constitution.
Historical Claims
Petitioners' View
The shrine was built over a Shiva temple, and the roof design resembles a Hindu structure.
Government/Court View
The court did not address the historical claims, advising petitioners to pursue their civil suit.
Political Legitimacy
Petitioners' View
The practice provides political legitimacy to a disputed structure.
Government/Court View
The court did not comment on the political implications, focusing on the justiciability of the issue.
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Petitioners
- Jitender Singh and Vishnu Gupta
- Relief Sought
- Declare the practice unconstitutional and restrain PM from offering chadar
- Bench
- CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi
- Article Cited
- Article 32 of the Constitution
- Pending Suit
- Civil court in Ajmer
- Historical Figure
- Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
- Shrine
- Ajmer Sharif Dargah
- Union Minister
- Kiren Rijiju
- Event
- 814th Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti
- Date of Offering
- December 22, 2025
- Places of Worship Act
- 1991 Act prohibits changes to religious character of places of worship as of August 15, 1947
- Pending Lawsuits
- At least 18 suits concerning 10 mosques and shrines, including Gyanvapi mosque and Shahi Eidgah mosque
Sources
'Not justiciable': SC dismisses PIL challenging PM's ceremonial chadar offering at Ajmer Dargah
SC dismisses plea for restraining PM Modi from offering ‘chadar’ at Ajmer Sharif Dargah
SC Rejects Plea Seeking to Bar PM Modi from Offering ‘Chadar’ at Ajmer Sharif
Supreme Court rejects plea to stop PM Modi from offering chadar at Ajmer Sharif Dargah
SC dismisses plea against PM offering ‘Chadar’ at Ajmer Sharif Dargah
