The Supreme Court on Friday deferred a plea challenging the Allahabad High Court’s decision to consolidate 15 lawsuits related to the Mathura Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute. The bench, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, indicated a preliminary favor towards the High Court’s ruling, suggesting that consolidation could benefit both parties involved in the litigation.
The Allahabad High Court had previously directed the combination of these suits on January 11 of the previous year, citing it as being in the “interest of justice.” This move aimed to streamline the process and reduce the complexities of handling multiple, similar legal challenges separately.
During the Supreme Court session, the bench addressed an issue pertaining to a 1991 law on places of worship and questioned the necessity of intervening in the lawsuit consolidation at this stage. Chief Justice Khanna advised the mosque committee’s lawyer that they could revisit the plea at a later time if needed.
In a significant related decision on December 12, the Supreme Court had issued a restraint on all courts in the country from entertaining new lawsuits or issuing interim or final orders in pending cases that seek to reclaim religious places, particularly targeting mosques and dargahs. This overarching directive aims to curb the escalation of religious property disputes across the nation.
Despite objections from a lawyer representing the Committee of Management Trust Shahi Idgah, who argued that the lawsuits were distinct and consolidation could complicate proceedings, the Supreme Court bench maintained that avoiding multiple proceedings would ultimately be advantageous for all parties. They reassured that consolidation would not lead to complications but rather simplify the legal process by handling all related matters together.
