In a significant development, the Supreme Court on January 16, 2024, put a temporary halt to the Allahabad High Court’s order, which had appointed a commissioner to inspect the Shahi Idgah mosque in connection with the longstanding Mathura’s Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute.
The apex court also called for a response from the Hindu outfit Bhagwan Shri Krishna Virajman and others, following a plea filed by the mosque committee against the Allahabad High Court’s order on the survey of Shahi Idgah. Advocate Reena N. Singh, representing Bhagwan Sri Krishna Lalla Virajman, clarified that the Supreme Court’s decision pertained only to staying the survey order and not the ongoing trial at the Allahabad High Court, which is scheduled to continue.
Speaking to ANI, Advocate Reena N. Singh stated, “Today, the court heard about the survey order of the Allahabad High Court case, which was being challenged by the Muslim side. The Intezamia Committee had challenged the order, and today the Supreme Court stayed the survey order only. But they have not stayed the trial. The trial at Allahabad High Court will continue… The next date of hearing is on 23rd January.”
This development comes after the Allahabad High Court had granted permission for a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah in December. The high court had emphasized that the survey should not cause any harm to the Mathura structure and suggested that a three-member commission of advocates oversee the process. The mosque committee, dissatisfied with the decision, moved to the Supreme Court on January 4, challenging the Allahabad High Court’s order. In their plea, the committee argued that the high court should have considered their petition for the rejection of the plaint before addressing other miscellaneous applications in the suit.
In the previous hearing on January 11, the Allahabad High Court adjourned the discussion on the modalities of the Shahi Idgah survey until January 17. The complex is situated adjacent to the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura, making it a focal point in the Krishna Janmabhumi-Shahi Idgah case. The Hindu side in the dispute has urged the formation of a commission for the survey, claiming that the mosque displays signs indicating its historical connection to a Hindu temple. The court’s decision to pause the survey order adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal battle, with the next hearing scheduled for January 23.
