Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute: Allahabad HC to address plea for Mosque survey on Dec 18

Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute: The Allahabad High Court is set to address a plea concerning the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute. It involves appointing a court-monitored advocate commissioner to survey the Shahi Eidgah premises adjacent to the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura.

During the hearing on Thursday, the court prioritised addressing the application for the appointment of an advocate commissioner to survey the Shahi Eidgah premises. The decision on the matter's maintainability will be deferred until later, with the court slated to hear the application on December 18.

Earlier, on November 16, the High Court had reserved its judgment on a plea from the Hindu side, requesting the appointment of a court-monitored advocate commissioner. The 18 original suits before the court primarily seek a declaration that the disputed land, housing the Shahi Eidgah Mosque, belongs to the deity Lord Shri Krishna Virajman. Additionally, they request an order for the mosque's removal.

These suits also allege that the construction of the Shahi Eidgah Mosque was carried out under the directives of Emperor Aurangzeb. Previously, on May 26, the Allahabad High Court had taken jurisdiction of all the pending suits related to the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah Mosque dispute that were originally filed before the Mathura Court.

The Hindu party presented lotus carvings and shapes resembling 'sheshnag' on mosque walls as evidence, suggesting the mosque was built atop a temple. Meanwhile, the Muslim side cited the Places of Worship Act of 1991, aiming to uphold the religious status quo since August 15, 1947.

In 1968, a pact between the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan and the Shahi Masjid Idgah Trust allocated 10.9 acres for the Krishna Janmabhoomi and 2.5 acres for the mosque. With 18 ongoing cases in the High Court, all disputes from the local Mathura court were transferred to it.