Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Dispute: SC Lists Matter for Hearing on Jan 9

The Supreme Court on Friday scheduled the hearing on Shri Krishna Janambhoomi-Shahi Idgah land dispute for January 9, 2024.

A bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia was hearing the matter.

The court said that it appears that the matter would have to be heard and asked both parties to file a short synopsis.

During the hearing, the court commented on the parties’ willingness to come to Delhi but reluctance to go to Allahabad, mentioning the distance between Mathura and Allahabad, raised by the mosque committee’s lawyer.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had sought details from the registrar of the Allahabad High Court regarding the suits related to the Mathura’s Krishna Janambhoomi land dispute being handled by the court.

The Committee of Management Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah has filed an appeal challenging the Allahabad High Court’s order. This order transferred all petitions concerning the Krishna Janambhoomi dispute from the District Court Mathura to the High Court.

The petition highlighted concerns regarding the transfer, mentioning that the proceedings in the originating suit were previously stayed by the High Court. The appeal emphasized that the transfer order bypassed the usual appellate stages and moved additional suits to the Allahabad High Court without corresponding transfer applications.

Multiple cases related to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi and Shahi Idgah Masjid have been filed in the Mathura Court. Among these, one suit filed by Ranjana Agnihotri from Lucknow sought ownership of 13.37 acres of land claimed by Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi and demanded the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque situated at the birthplace of Lord Krishna. This suit contends the mosque’s construction in 1669-70 under the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb on the premises of the Katra Keshav Dev temple.