Mahashivratri 2026 At Ladle Mashak Dargah: Supreme Court To Examine Plea Against Shivlinga Puja In Aland

The Supreme Court on February 11, 2026 agreed to examine 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 concerns 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.

The matter was mentioned 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.

“There is an Aland Dargah in Gulbarga. Now they want to have Shivaratri celebrations there. If we can have it heard before February 15,” she submitted.

At the outset, the Supreme Court questioned the maintainability of the plea under Article 32 of the Constitution. CJI Kant 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.”

The Court 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 has now agreed to examine the fresh plea seeking restraint on the proposed puja at the Ladle Mashak Dargah premises. The Court’s observations on the use of Article 32 indicate that questions regarding jurisdiction and forum may also arise during the hearing.

The matter is expected to be taken up in view of the limited time before the festival.