New Delhi: The Supreme Court has stayed in the interim a demolition notice issued by the Nashik Municipal Corporation for razing the Hazrat Saatpeer Sayed Baba dargah.

The apex court has also sought an explanation from the Bombay high court for non-listing of the plea to stop the demolition of the Shrine, which was razed just hours before the court hearing, reported Press Trust of India.

The structure was razed on the intervening night of April 15 and 16 while the hearing took place on April 16 afternoon.

A bench of Supreme Court Justices P.S. Narasimah and Joymala Bagchi noted that the petition was filed before the Bombay high court on April 7 but was not taken up for hearing.

The court ordered that there shall be a stay of notice dated April 1, 2025 issued by the Nashik Municipal Corporation.

Senior advocate Navin Pahwa, who was representing the dargah management, claimed that despite efforts, the matter was not listed in the Bombay high court.

“We have taken this extraordinary measure in view of the specific statement of the senior counsel that efforts were made every day for getting the case listed. We are unsure of the statement made and that the high court would not have listed the case despite repeated requests. This is a serious statement and the counsel shall take and feel responsibility for the consequence of such a statement,” said the Supreme Court bench on April 16.

Thereafter, the apex court directed the Registrar General of the Bombay high court to send a report about the listing of the petition.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.