Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court has granted permission to remove illegal encroachments allegedly made by the dargah administration on Dhansura-Modasa Road on the Ahmedabad-Modasa Highway. The court dismissed a petition filed by the dargah administrators challenging the notice issued by local authorities to remove the encroachments.

During the hearing, the state government clarified that the dargah’s encroachments are on a public road, and therefore, illegal encroachments and occupations will be removed. However, according to the road map of 1978, the original part of the dargah will not be harmed. Considering this, the High Court outrightly refused to grant any relief to the petitioners (dargah administrators) and dismissed the petition.

In the plea, the administrators of the Hazrat Saiyed Jafar Ali Dargah located on the Dhansura-Modasa road claimed that the dargah is many years old and is a historic monument. They stated that only an iron grill has been installed around the dargah, and no encroachment has been done.

The state government opposed the petition, stating that the illegal encroachment near the dargah is causing obstruction on the road. Moreover, the Supreme Court has also issued clear directives to remove illegal religious structures and encroachments on public roads or places, and the authorities are acting in compliance with those orders. DeshGujarat