The Allahabad High Court on Friday listed March 12 as the next date of hearing on an amendment application filed by the Muslim side in the Krishna Janmabhoomi–Shahi Idgah title dispute at Mathura.
The matter was taken up by Justice Avnish Saxena. During the hearing, counsel for the Muslim side, Tasneem Ahmadi, submitted that an amendment application earlier moved in the written statement had already been allowed. However, the Court noted that no order permitting such amendment was available on record. In view of this discrepancy, the counsel sought time, following which the Court adjourned the matter to March 12.
The controversy centres around the Shahi Idgah mosque, said to have been constructed during the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. A group of Hindu plaintiffs claim that the mosque was built after demolishing a temple at what they assert is the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
Eighteen suits have been filed by Hindu worshippers seeking possession of the land, removal of the mosque structure, and restoration of the temple at the disputed site.
On August 1, 2024, the High Court had dismissed applications filed by the Muslim पक्ष challenging the maintainability of the suits. In that order, the Court held that the suits were not barred by the Limitation Act, the Waqf Act, or the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
The Places of Worship Act generally freezes the religious character of places of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, and bars conversion. The High Court, however, had ruled that the bar under the statute would not apply to the present suits at the stage of maintainability.
The proceedings will now continue on March 12, when the Court is expected to take up the amendment issue raised by the Muslim side.
