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Tansen’s grave ‘deserves to be protected’: Madhya Pradesh HC denies nod for religious, cultural activities at Gwalior monument

The court was dealing with an appeal by one Syed Sabla Hasan, who claimed that he is the Sajjada Nashin (spiritual caretaker) and the legal heir of Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus

3 min readBhopalUpdated: Jun 25, 2025 07:32 AM IST

According to court documents, the premises of the monument contain the graves of musical maestro Tansen and Sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus, both from the 16th century (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

Observing that the monument that houses the grave of Tansen, one of the “nine jewels” in the court of Mughal emperor Akbar, deserves to be protected, the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed an appeal seeking permission to perform religious and cultural activities at the tomb of Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior.

The tomb of Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus was declared a protected monument of national importance in 1962 under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

A Bench of Justice Anand Pathak and Justice Hirdesh noted that the monument “deserves to be protected with utmost care and caution” and no such activities, as sought by the appellant, can be permitted.

“…Constitutional vision and constitutional morality ought to prevail over personal and vested interest. It (the monument) deserves to be protected with utmost care and caution, and no activity as sought by the petitioner can be permitted, lest the monument lose its originality, sanctity and vitality. It would be a national loss then,” the court said on June 16.

According to court documents, the premises of the monument contain the graves of musical maestro Tansen and Sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus, both from the 16th century.

The court documents said Tansen was remembered for his classical Dhrupad compositions. “Dhrupad, an epic form of music, is considered to be invented by Raja Man Singh Tomar (ruler of Gwalior), in medieval times,” the court said, while reasoning that the monument where he is laid to rest deserves preservation and protection.

The court was dealing with an appeal by one Syed Sabla Hasan, who claimed that he is the Sajjada Nashin (spiritual caretaker) and the legal heir of Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus.

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It was argued on his behalf that various religious and cultural practices had been performed at the dargah premises for over 400 years and that their discontinuation by the Archaeological Survey of India, following the declaration of the site as a protected monument, was arbitrary and illegal.

The court stressed that “it is the duty of the ASI and the district administration to protect this monument of national importance with utmost care and strictness” so that the monument carrying history and culture can be preserved.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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