Bilaspur High Court Stays Chhattisgarh Waqf Board's DJ and Dhumal Ban at Religious Gatherings

The Bilaspur High Court has placed an immediate stay on a Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board order that had banned DJ music, dhumal, and dancing at dargahs and religious gatherings across the state. Violators had faced a fine of Rs 50,000 under the directive, which is now suspended.

The Bilaspur High Court has dealt a significant blow to the Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board, immediately staying a controversial directive that imposed a sweeping ban on DJ music, dhumal, dancing, and singing at dargahs and religious gatherings across the state. With the court's intervention, the Waqf Board's order has been rendered ineffective for the time being.

The June 2026 Order That Sparked the Controversy
Dr. Saleem Raj, the chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board, had issued the directive in June 2026. It imposed a complete prohibition on the use of DJ music, dhumal, and any form of dancing or singing at all dargahs, urs, and other religious gatherings across the state. The order also attached a financial penalty to the ban: anyone found violating it would face a fine of Rs 50,000.

The Board's Justification for the Ban
The Waqf Board defended its directive by arguing that the use of DJ music, dance performances, and similar activities at religious sites and events was fundamentally at odds with established religious traditions. In the board's view, such practices were incompatible with the sanctity of these occasions and spaces, making a ban necessary.

High Court Grants Immediate Stay After Petition
The order was challenged before the Chhattisgarh High Court. After hearing the arguments put forward by the petitioner, the Bilaspur High Court granted an immediate stay on the Waqf Board's directive. As a direct consequence, the board can no longer take any action against organisers for playing DJ music or dhumal at religious events, nor can it enforce the Rs 50,000 fine.

The Legal Question That Remains
The dispute is far from settled. Future court hearings will address a critical underlying question: does the Waqf Board actually hold the legal authority to frame rules banning certain practices at religious gatherings and to impose financial penalties on violators? Until that question is answered, the High Court's stay keeps the board's order suspended.

What this means for you
• In Chhattisgarh: Organisers of dargahs, urs, and religious gatherings can now play DJ music and dhumal without fear of action or the Rs 50,000 fine from the Waqf Board, as the High Court has stayed the ban.
• Across India: The case sets up an important legal precedent around how far a Waqf Board's authority extends over practices at religious events, with future court hearings set to resolve the question.

Questions & Answers

1. What order did the Bilaspur High Court stay?
The court stayed the Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board's directive that had completely banned the use of DJ music, dhumal, dancing, and singing at dargahs and religious gatherings.

2. When and by whom was the controversial order issued?
The order was issued in June 2026 by Dr. Saleem Raj, the chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board.

3. What was the fine for violating the order?
The Waqf Board's order provided for a fine of Rs 50,000 for anyone who violated the ban.

4. What can the Waqf Board do now after the High Court stay?
With the stay in place, the board can neither take action against anyone for playing DJ music or dhumal at religious events nor collect the Rs 50,000 fine.

5. Why did the Waqf Board ban DJ music and dhumal in the first place?
The board argued that DJ music, dancing, and similar activities at religious sites and events were contrary to established religious traditions.

6. What happens next in this legal case?
Future court hearings will determine whether the Waqf Board has the legal authority to frame such rules and impose fines on violators at religious gatherings.

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