Mahashivratri 2026: Supreme Court Rejects Plea Against Shivlinga Puja at Aland's Ladle Mashak Dargah

The Supreme Court today refused a petition seeking to restrain the conduct of Mahashivratri puja at the premises of the Ladle Mashak Dargah in Aland town of Kalaburagi district, Karnataka.

The plea concerned special Mahashivratri prayers proposed to be offered to the Raghava Chaitanya Shivalinga located within the Hazrat Ladle Mashak Dargah premises. Mahashivratri this year falls on February 15, 2026.

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and SC Sharma told the petitioner Khaleel Ansari that Article 32 of the Constitution cannot be invoked in this matter.

Court was told that though the property in question was already declared a Waqf property by, various third parties kept filing writ petitions before the High Court seeking permission to conduct pujas on specific occasions. It was thus argued that these references would amount to changing the religious character of the property, in violation of the Places of Worship Act.

The plea also referred to a suit filed in January 2026 seeking a declaration that Samadhi of Saint Raghav Chaitannya exists within the dargah as well as injunctive relief permitting renovation, construction and worship. It further mentioned an ad hoc arrangement made by the High Court in 2025, permitting 15 identified individuals to offer prayers, subject to status quo and prohibition on installation/construction. It was averred that the petitioner in that case was "emboldened" by this ad hoc arrangement to seek similar reliefs in 2026 as an annual entitlement.

The matter was mentioned yesterday before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. Senior Advocate Vibha Datta Makhija, appearing for the petitioner, cited urgency in view of the upcoming festival. At the outset, the Supreme Court had yesterday too questioned the maintainability of the plea under Article 32 of the Constitution. CJI Kant had observed, “Why is everything coming in Article 32? Impression created is that pleas are coming because the law is convenient, and message going is that High Court is defunct.”

Court had then indicated that it would examine the issue while expressing concern about bypassing the High Court in matters involving local religious disputes.

The Ladle Mashak Dargah is named after Laadle Mashak, a 14th century Sufi saint. The site also houses the Samadhi of Hindu saint Raghava Chaitanya, who lived in the 15th century. The presence of a Shivalinga at the site has historically attracted devotees from both communities, with many Hindus offering prayers there.

In February 2025, the Karnataka High Court had granted limited permission for Mahashivratri celebrations at the site amid tight security arrangements. The High Court allowed 15 persons to enter the premises to perform puja to the Shivlinga between 2 PM and 6 PM, although the petition had sought permission for 500 devotees. Traditionally, Hindu devotees had maintained a practice of worshipping the Shivalinga at the site. The location has at times been described as a shared spiritual space reflecting local traditions.

In 2024, tensions escalated following reports of alleged desecration of the Shivalinga. The incident was highlighted by BJP MLA Subhash Guttedar, who called for government intervention to safeguard the religious and historical significance of both the Samadhi and the Shivlinga. The episode led to protests by certain organisations in Aland, who announced their intention to clean and worship the Samadhi and Shivlinga during Mahashivratri. Social media exchanges and counter allegations further heightened tensions in the region.

With Mahashivratri 2026 approaching, the Supreme Court had agreed to examine the fresh plea seeking restraint on the proposed puja at the Ladle Mashak Dargah premises. 

Case Title: Khaleel Ansari vs State of Karnataka

Bench: Justices Datta and Sharma

Hearing Date: February 12, 2026