Today(on 9th August), The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing on the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple and Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute to the first week of November. This follows the Allahabad High Court’s August 1 ruling that dismissed a plea challenging the maintainability of 18 related cases.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: Today(on 9th August), The Supreme Court decided to adjourn the hearing on the ongoing dispute between the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple and the Shahi Idgah Masjid in Mathura, pushing the matter to the first week of November. This development follows a significant ruling by the Allahabad High Court on August 1, which rejected a plea that challenged the maintainability of 18 different cases related to the contentious temple-mosque dispute.
In its ruling, the Allahabad High Court emphasized that-
“Determining the religious character of Shahi Idgah is necessary.”
The court’s decision directly addressed the concerns raised by the Muslim side, which argued that the suits filed by Hindu litigants over the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple and the adjacent Shahi Idgah mosque were in violation of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991. The Act, which was implemented to preserve the religious status of places of worship as they existed on the day of India’s Independence, specifically prohibits any alterations to the religious character of such sites. However, it does exempt the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute from its jurisdiction.
ALSO READ: Krishna Janmasthan-Shahi Idgah Dispute | HC Reserves Judgment on Maintainability of Cases
Despite the provisions of the 1991 Act, the Allahabad High Court dismissed the argument from the Muslim community that these cases were not maintainable under the law. The court asserted that determining the religious character of the Shahi Idgah was a necessary step in resolving the dispute.
The controversy dates back to the Mughal era, with the Hindu side claiming that the Shahi Idgah mosque was constructed on the ruins of a temple that was demolished during Aurangzeb’s reign. The current lawsuits filed by Hindu groups seek the “removal” of the mosque, alleging it was built after the demolition of a pre-existing temple.
In response to the Allahabad High Court’s decision, Tanvir Ahmad, the secretary of the Shahi Masjid committee, expressed the community’s intentions moving forward. He stated-
“We are reviewing the high court’s order and will file an appeal with the Supreme Court.”
This indicates that the Muslim side is preparing to challenge the High Court’s ruling in the Supreme Court, aiming to seek relief from the higher judiciary.