Allahabad High Court Greenlights Trial in Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Dispute

The Allahabad High Court allowed trials in 18 cases related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute. The petition challenging these suits' maintainability was dismissed. The cases involve Hindu litigants seeking the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque, claimed to have been built on a demolished temple. The court's judgment will continue on August 12.

The Allahabad High Court has ruled that the trial in 18 cases concerning the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute in Mathura will proceed, dismissing a petition by the mosque committee that questioned the suits' maintainability.

Justice Mayank Kumar Jain had earlier reserved his judgment on June 6 following the Muslim side's plea. The adjudication moves forward, with August 12 set for the framing of issues.

Filed by Hindu litigants, the suits demand the 'removal' of the Shahi Idgah mosque, which they claim was constructed atop a demolished temple at Lord Krishna's birthplace. However, the mosque management and the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board cite the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which prohibits changing the status of religious sites as they existed at Independence, as their defense.

Despite this, the Act notably exempted the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid conflict. With the latest plea dismissed, the high court will proceed with the cases, and the Hindu side plans to request the Supreme Court to lift a stay on a prior Allahabad High Court order for a mosque survey.

This situation parallels the legal struggle in Varanasi over the Gyanvapi mosque and Kashi Vishwanath temple.

(With inputs from agencies.)