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HomeNational NewsRights bodies urge Bombay High Court Chief Justice to stop authorities from banning...

Rights bodies urge Bombay High Court Chief Justice to stop authorities from banning stalls by Muslims at Kanifnath Yatra

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Opposing a gram panchayat resolution in Maharashtra that banned Muslim traders from setting up shops for Shri Kanifnath Yatra, 34 human rights organisations approached the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court on Thursday (March 13, 2025) seeking an urgent intervention in the matter. The organisations termed the resolution, passed by Madhi gram panchayat of Pathardi taluka in Ahilyanagar district on February 22, “illegal”, “arbitrary” and “discriminatory”.

The organisations have sought strict compliance and effective implementation of a March 11 order by the Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court that directed an ad interim stay on the gram panchayat’s resolution, to enable safe and respectful working conditions for Muslim vendors.

The letter, signed by organisations from Maharashtra, New Delhi and West Bengal, said, “We address this letter to you as organisations working for the rights of hawkers/street-vendors and workers in Maharashtra, and to uphold human rights, to bring to your notice an urgent case of illegality and blatant violation by the gram panchayat, Madhi, which passed the resolution banning Muslim vendors from undertaking business/erecting stalls at the Shri Kanifnath Maharaj Yatra, an annual fair which takes place every year in Madhi village.”

The Kanifnath Yatra begins on Holi, from March 14, and continues till the end of the month. It has historically had stalls of vendors irrespective of their religion set up at the festival.

“The Madhi gram panchayat on February 22 passed a resolution on the proposal of Sarpanch Sanjay Markad, who is a member of the ruling BJP, and has been supported by BJP Minister Nitish Rane and NCP MLA Sangram Jagtap, who visited the village on March 2 to lend their support to Mr. Markad. This is in spite of the fact that the resolution was invalidated by Pathardi’s Block Development Officer (BDO) Shivaji Kamble on February 28. Several villagers from different communities have given statements in the media condemning the resolution for being discriminatory and trying to communalise the atmosphere,” the letter said.

Stay order

The High Court on March 11 stayed the effect, operation and execution of the resolution until April 8.

“In spite of the court order, Mr. Markad has made statements in the media that since the resolution was invalidated by the BDO, they will pass another resolution and will not allow Muslim vendors to do business in the Kanifnath Yatra. Due to these continuing threats, the safety of Muslim vendors, if they erect stalls, continues to be under question. A fear persists among the Muslim vendors, who have arrived in Madhi village with their wares and stocks bought for sale at the fair. They will suffer grave losses if they do not put up their stalls,” the letter said.

The organisations stressed that every person has the right to work, and equality and protection from discrimination are fundamental rights of all citizens under the Indian Constitution, irrespective of the community or religion they belong to.

“Any violation by the Sarpanch, gram sabha members, local authorities and any individuals in allowing Muslim vendors from doing business and erecting their stalls at the Kanifnath Yatra, which starts tomorrow, would stand in contempt of the March 11 order passed by the High Court and in blatant disregard of the law of the land,” it said.

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