Supreme Court to hear tomorrow plea for stay on demolition around Afzal Khan tomb in Maharashtra

The Supreme Court will on Friday hear a plea seeking a stay on anti-encroachment demolition around the Afzal Khan tomb in Maharashtra's Satara.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud refused to pass any status quo orders when the matter was mentioned for urgent listing today by Advocate Nizam Pasha.

"The Supreme Court had earlier stayed the demolition. But today, newspaper reports suggest that they are demolishing it. There was a contempt petition in the Bombay High Court as well. We seek listing and an interim directions," Pasha said.

He added that in 1959, the land in question was given to a dargah management committee.

Khan was a general who served the Adil Shahi dynasty of the Bijapur Sultanate, defeated and killed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1659.

The High Court had earlier declared that the tomb was on forest land, and directed its demolition while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL).

A contempt petition noted that unauthorised constructions were still coming up around the tomb despite the High Court order.

The top court had, in 2017, issued notice in the matter directed the High Court to defer the contempt proceedings.

An Indian Express report from earlier today sates that the Satara district administration has started demolishing “unauthorised structures” around the tomb.