SC Disposes of Idgah Committee Plea in Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid Dispute

The Supreme Court has disposed of the Idgah Committee’s plea challenging the Allahabad High Court’s decision to consolidate 15 suits related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute. A bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna noted that an application to recall the order under challenge is pending before the High Court.

The Committee of Management Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah had contested the Allahabad High Court’s directive to consolidate the suits concerning the dispute, arguing that the consolidation was done hastily without proper hearings. The High Court had issued the consolidation order on January 11, 2024.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, revealed that the Supreme Court instructed the Shahi Idgah Masjid to present its case before the Allahabad High Court. He explained that the High Court had consolidated the suits to hear them together, prompting the Shahi Idgah Masjid to approach the Supreme Court against this order.

The plea by the Idgah Committee emphasized the concerns about competing claims and different reliefs sought by various parties in the consolidated suits, potentially leading to a miscarriage of justice. The Supreme Court acknowledged the pending recall application before the High Court and advised addressing it before seeking further intervention from the apex court.

This development adds another layer to the legal complexities surrounding the Mathura’s Krishna Janambhoomi land dispute, which has seen multiple legal forums and appeals from different parties, including Ranjana Agnihotri’s suit demanding ownership of land near the birthplace of Lord Krishna and the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque.