I N THE HI GH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAI NI TAL HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE SRI MANOJ KUMAR GUPTA AND HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE SUBHASH UPADHYAY WRI T PETI TI ON (PI L) NO. 64 OF 2023

22^ND APRI L, 2026 Mohd. Shahzad …… Petitioner Versus State of Uttarakhand & others …… Respondents Counsel for the petitioner : Mr. Piyush Garg, learned counsel Counsel for the respondents : Mr. B.P.S. Mer, learned Standing Counsel for the State : Mr. Bhuwan Bhatt, learned counsel for respondent No. 7 : Mr. Saif Hameed, learned counsel holding brief of Mr. Vishwa Prakash Bahuguna, learned counsel for respondent Nos. 8 to 16 The Court made the following:

JUDGMENT: (per Sri Manoj Kumar Gupta, C.J.)

1) The following reliefs have been prayed for in the present writ petition :

“(a) To issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus commanding the respondent Nos. 1 to 7 to ensure that no interference is caused at the hands of respondent Nos. 8 to 16, in burial of the dead bodies and in performance of post death rituals of the members belonging to Barelvi community in the Kabristan situated in Village Bhaniyawala, Tehsil Doiwala, District Dehradun and be directed to ensure that adequate protection is being p