Allahabad HC dismisses plea to declare Shahi Idgah Mosque as 'disputed structure'

Allahabad High Court on Friday dismissed a plea by the Committee of Management, Shahi Jama Masjid which sought to declare Shahi Idgah Mosque as a ' disputed structure'.

In the ongoing case of Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute, the high court dismissed the application seeking to substitute the term 'Shahi Idgah Mosque' with 'disputed structure' in all future proceedings related to the cases before the HC.

The application was supported by an affidavit of advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh. On the other hand, a written objection was filed on behalf of defendants.

A single judge bench of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra, hearing a bunch of original suits relating to the matter, said that the application was being dismissed "at this stage".

Back in April, Supreme Court reiterated the order passed by Allahabad HC in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah case, allowing the Hindu side's plea to amend its suit against the mosque and add the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as a party to it, is prima facie correct.

Earlier, at one stage on August 1, 2024, the high court rejected applications of the Muslim side challenging maintainability of suits of Hindu worshippers and held that all suits of Hindu worshippers are maintainable.

In the same order, the court said that these cases are not barred by Limitation Act, Waqf Act and Places of Worship Act,1991, which prohibit conversion of any religious structure as existed on August, 15, 1947.

In May 2023, the Allahabad High Court transferred to itself all suits pending before the Mathura Court praying for various reliefs pertaining to the dispute. All these cases combined are presently pending before the court, all seeking the removal of alleged illegal encroachments from the premises of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple, currently referred to as the Shahi Idgah Masjid.

The controversy of the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple is related to the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb-era's Shahi Idgah mosque at Mathura which the Hindu side claims has been built after demolishing a temple at the birthplace of Lord Krishna.