The Allahabad High Court has granted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) one week to file its response to a plea requesting a government agency survey of the Jama Masjid in Agra.
The plea alleges that the remains of idols of Thakur Keshav Dev, the primary deity of the Krishna Janmbhoomi temple, were buried in the mosque after it was attacked by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s army in 1670.
The petitioner has also requested the appointment of an advocate commissioner to conduct the survey. Justice Mayank Kumar Jain has given the ASI a week to submit its reply and has scheduled the next hearing for August 12.
Additionally, the court has allowed the counsel for the Hindu plaintiffs to file any objections to an application submitted by the Committee of Management Shahi Masjid Idgah of Mathura, which seeks to become a party to the case.
This order was issued while hearing one of the 18 consolidated suits related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah case. The suit was filed in the name of the deity Thakur Keshav Dev Ji Maharaj Virajman Mandir Katra Keshav Dev through his devotee.
The Hindu plaintiff in the suit claims that Aurangzeb demolished the temple of Keshav Dev in 1670 and buried the idol under the Jama Masjid in Agra. On July 4, the management committee of the Shahi Masjid Idgah of Mathura filed an impleadment application, and a copy of this application was provided to the Hindu side plaintiff during the hearing.
