2 August 2024: The Allahabad High Court has ruled that trials in 18 cases related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute in Mathura can continue, dismissing a petition from the mosque committee that questioned the maintainability of these suits, multiple reports said. The decision, announced on Thursday, paves the way for the ongoing legal battle over the site, which has been a point of contention between Hindu and Muslim communities.
Justice Mayank Kumar Jain had reserved his judgment on June 6 regarding the petition filed by the mosque committee. The court has now scheduled August 12 for the framing of issues in the cases.
The suits, initiated by Hindu litigants, seek the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque, which they claim was constructed during the era of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb after demolishing a temple located adjacent to the Krishna Janmabhoomi. The mosque management committee, along with the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board, had argued that these suits were inadmissible under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991, which maintains the status of places of worship as it was on the day of India’s independence.
Despite these arguments, the High Court’s dismissal of the petition allows the trials to move forward, marking a significant development in the ongoing dispute. The court’s decision underscores the complex interplay between historical claims and contemporary legal frameworks in adjudicating such sensitive issues.
