Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah case: Setback for Muslim side as Allahabad HC rejects plea on maintainability of suits

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday rejected a petition filed by the mosque committee that challenged the maintainability of suits filed by the Hindu side in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute in Mathura. In the ruling, the high court said the 18 suits filed by the Hindu side in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute are maintainable.

This means the trial in 18 cases relating to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute in Mathura will continue. The court has now fixed August 12 as the date for framing of issues.

The Muslim side includes the mosque management committee and UP Sunni Central Waqf Board.

On June 6, Justice Mayank Kumar Jain had reserved his judgment on the plea moved by the Muslim side that challenged the maintainability of the suits.

What's the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah case?

The suits filed by Hindu petitioners sought "removal" of the Shahi Idgah mosque located adjacent to the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple. The additional prayers include seeking possession of the Shahi Idgah premises.

The petitions by the Hindu side claimed that the Aurangazeb-era mosque was built after the demolition of the temple.

As per Bar and Bench, the original suit filed by the Hindu side claimed that the Mathura Shahi Idgah Masjid was built over Krishna Janmabhoomi land and sought the removal of the mosque. It was claimed that there were various indications to support the view that the Shahi-Idgah Mosque is, in fact, a Hindu temple.

The mosque management committee, in its petition, has challenged these suits. The committee and the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board argued that the suits were barred under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 which prohibits changing the status of any place of worship from what it was on August 15, 1947.

According to the Muslim side, the suits itself admit the fact that the mosque in question was built in 1669-70.