Allahabad High Court Greenlights Continuation of Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Dispute Trials

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that trials in 18 cases concerning the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute in Mathura may proceed. This follows a petition by the mosque committee, challenging the suits' maintainability, which the court dismissed. The Hindu litigants seek the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque.

The Allahabad High Court ruled on Thursday that the trials in 18 cases related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute in Mathura can continue, dismissing a petition from the mosque committee challenging the suits' maintainability.

Justice Mayank Kumar Jain had reserved judgment on June 6 on the Muslim side's plea against the suits' maintainability. The court has now set August 12 as the date to frame the issues.

The suits, filed by Hindu litigants, seek the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque adjacent to the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple. Petitioners claim the mosque was built during Aurangazeb's era after demolishing a temple marking Lord Krishna's birthplace.

The mosque management committee and the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board contend that the suits are barred under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which prohibits changing the status of any place of worship as it was on the day of India's independence.

Hindu side counsel Vishnu Shankar Jain stated that with the plea dismissal, the high court will continue to hear all the cases. He mentioned the Hindu side will next approach the Supreme Court to vacate its stay on a prior Allahabad High Court order permitting a mosque survey.

"We will also file a caveat regarding today's order in the Supreme Court," said Jain.

(With inputs from agencies.)