In a significant turn of events in the Krishna Janmabhoomi land dispute, the Supreme Court of India, on Friday, declined to issue a stay order on the Allahabad High Court’s decision permitting a scientific survey on the Shahi Idgah Mosque complex in Mathura. The apex court dismissed an oral plea presented by the Muslim Committee seeking a stay on the Allahabad High Court’s order, which allowed an application for appointing a court commissioner to inspect the mosque.
Hindu Assertions in Krishna Janmabhoomi Land Dispute:
In the contentious Shahi Idgah case, the Hindu side contends that Raja Veer Singh Bundela of Orchha erected a temple on a 13.37-acre plot in 1618. According to petitions, the present-day Shahi Idgah mosque was constructed in 1670 after the temple’s demolition, following the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Citing the official court bulletin of February 1670, the petitioners advocate for the removal of the mosque, asserting that it was built within a complex shared with the Katra Keshav Dev Temple, near the renowned ‘Krishna Janmabhoomi’ area.
The Hindu side points to a lotus-shaped pillar within the mosque premises, characteristic of Hindu temples, as evidence supporting their claim that the structure was originally a temple. They also highlight the presence of Hindu religious symbols within the mosque complex.
Shahi Idgah Mosque Committee and UP Sunni Central Waqf Board’s Defense
The defendants, Shahi Idgah mosque committee, and UP Sunni Central Waqf Board argue against the Hindu side’s claims. They assert that the Shahi Idgah mosque does not fall within the 13.37-acre land at Katra Keshav Dev. Furthermore, they challenge the assertion that Krishna’s birthplace lies beneath the mosque, emphasizing the lack of documentary evidence supporting such claims.
Historical Compromise
Jugal Kishore Birla, the land’s subsequent owner, established the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust and entrusted the 13.37-acre land to the trust in 1951 with a condition prohibiting its sale or pledge. The Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sangh was subsequently formed in 1964 to manage the temple adjacent to the land. A compromise was reached in 1968, where the Sangh relinquished its rights over the disputed land.
Recent Developments
In 2020, advocate Ranjana Agnihotri and seven others challenged the earlier compromise in a Mathura civil court, presenting themselves as the “next friend of Bhagwan Sri Krishna Virajman.” Initially rejected, the plea was later deemed ‘maintainable’ by the district court. Over the following two and a half years, an additional 17 pleas were filed, leading to a summons for all 18 cases in May 2023 by the high court for adjudication. The unfolding legal proceedings are closely watched as they navigate the complex historical and religious dimensions of the Shahi Idgah dispute.
