Shaikh Ahmed Muzawar v. State of Goa, Thr the Chief Secretary and 7 Ors.
Case brief
What is this about?
Goa writ petition (WPCR-33-2026, High Court of Bombay at Goa, decided 25.03.2026) concerning a religious-worship and trust-management dispute at the Sufi Dargah of Deus Babar Pir, Betul/Pirwada, Quitol, Quepem, between the Hazrat Babar Pir Rahmattulla Alle/Deus, Babor Pir/Pir Goa Trust and the rival Jama Tul Muslimeen Pirwada faction (Respondents No.5-8). Searchable themes: quashing of administrative/SDM meeting directions (Minutes dated 07.04./17.04.2025) regulating access to a Dargah's sanctum sanctorum; inconsistency of executive directions with a pending civil suit's interim order (RCS/16/2025, Civil Judge Senior Division Quepem, temporary injunction dismissed 23.03.2026); rights of worship versus trust management; Urus festival access arrangements and placement of offerings through authorized Maulvis; leave to seek modification upon reversal of civil-court orders.
What did the court decide?
Registry waived office objections and the matter was registered; Rule was granted and made returnable forthwith; the impugned directions recorded in the Minutes dated 17.04.2025 of the Deputy Collector & SDM, Quepem were quashed and set aside; Respondents No.5 to 8 were granted leave to seek modification of this Order if the Civil Court Orders are reversed or set aside; the Petition was disposed of in the aforesaid terms, with the Trustees' affidavit undertakings regarding the sanctum sanctorum, Urus festival access and placement of offerings accepted and strict compliance directed.