The Allahabad High Court has scheduled the next hearing of the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute for October 16, following a brief session on Monday where the court adjourned the matter. The hearing, presided over by Justice Mayank Kumar Jain, involves complex litigation concerning the historical and religious site in Mathura.
During Monday’s proceedings, the court noted that objections to a proposed amendment by the Hindu litigants had not yet been filed. This amendment is critical to one of the 18 suits filed by the Hindu side, seeking possession and the restoration of a temple they claim was demolished to build the Shahi Idgah mosque during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Justice Jain, who previously rejected a plea on August 1, 2024, from the Muslim side challenging the maintainability of the Hindu litigants’ suits, also affirmed that these suits are not restricted by the Limitation Act, Waqf Act, and Places of Worship Act, 1991. The latter act generally prohibits the conversion of any religious structure as it existed on August 15, 1947.
The ongoing litigation also includes a request from the Muslim side to recall the January 11 order that consolidated all related suits into one hearing, aiming for a streamlined judicial process.
The controversy centers on the Shahi Idgah mosque located in Mathura, which the Hindu side alleges was built over a temple at the birthplace of Lord Krishna, a claim that carries significant religious and historical implications. On the other hand, the Muslim side, represented by the management committee of Shahi Idgah and the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board, has contested these claims on several legal grounds.
