New Delhi, August 10:The Supreme Court on Friday extended its stay on the Allahabad High Court’s order that had permitted a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah mosque complex adjacent to the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura. The apex court’s stay, originally imposed on January 16, will now remain in effect until November, reported the Deccan Herald.
The bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar, issued the directive to maintain the status quo following the High Court’s December 14, 2023, ruling, which had sanctioned the survey and appointed a court commissioner to oversee the process.
The dispute stems from claims by Hindu petitioners that remnants of a temple exist within the mosque premises, suggesting that the mosque was constructed on land belonging to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust. The High Court had previously dismissed arguments from the mosque’s management committee that the suits filed by the Hindu litigants violated the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act of 1991. This Act prohibits altering the religious character of any place of worship as it stood on August 15, 1947, exempting only the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.
During the hearing, the Hindu side, represented by advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, argued that the petitions filed by the mosque management had become infructuous following the High Court’s ruling on August 1, which rejected the Muslim parties’ challenge to the maintainability of 18 related cases.
The Supreme Court’s bench noted that an application seeking to vacate the stay will be considered in November, alongside other pending issues.
The controversy surrounding the Shahi Idgah mosque and Krishna Janmabhoomi temple site continues to evoke strong emotions, reflecting the broader tension over religious sites in India. The court’s final decision is awaited with keen interest by both parties involved in the dispute.
