Teele Wali Masjid Case: Allahabad HC Seeks Replies From Opposing Parties By April 28

A petition has been recently moved before the Allahabad High Court contesting the maintainability of a suit pending in the Lucknow Court seeking possession of the Teele Wali Masjid Premises in the city. The HC sought responses from the opposing parties by April 28 after hearing the case on Monday.

Essentially, the suit was filed in 2013 by Lord Sheshnageshwar Mahadev Virajman through friend Dr VK Srivastava contending that during Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s reign, a Hindu religious structure was demolished to make way for the Teele Wala mosque and that the said premises be now handed over to the deity. (Lord Sheshnagesht Teeleshwar Mahadev Virajman).

The plaintiff-Deity further claims that the Teele Wali Masjid is actually Laxaman Tila, which was converted into a mosque during Mughal rule. The suit also asserts that the Tileshwar temple is located within the mosque and that the entire complex is the home of Sheshnag Dudheshwar Mahadev. The complaint also asks for the freedom to worship within the complex.

In 2017, the Civil Judge (Senior Division) of Lucknow ruled that the suit was maintainable, rejecting the Masjid parties’ Order 7 Rule 11 CPC plea. Following that, the ADJ’s Court dismissed the revision petition filed against the order. The Masjid Side (represented by Maulana Syed Shah Fazlul Mannan) has filed the High Court to challenge both of these orders.

The petitioner’s major contention is that the suit before the Lucknow Court is unsustainable due to the operation of the Places of Worship Act. On Monday, a bench led by Justice Manish Mathur granted the opposing parties 10 days to file their responses.

It may be noted that Hindu worshippers claim that Lord Rama directed his younger brother Laxman to build Laxman Puri in Sanatan Kaal. Laxman built Laxmanpuri on the banks of the Gomti and erected a Shiva ling on a mound, which he named Sheshnag Tileshwar Mahadev (present-day Teele Wali Masjid).