Krishna Janmabhoomi Case Hearing Live Updates: Allahabad HC to hear Krishna Janmabhumi-Shahi Idgah dispute on September 30

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday fixed September 30 as the next date for hearing in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute at Mathura. The Hindu side had moved an application for amendment in its petition, following which the next hearing was fixed.
Justice Mayank Kumar Jain is hearing 18 suits which are consolidated.

On August 1, the high court rejected the plea challenging the maintainability of 18 cases related to the temple-mosque dispute in Mathura, and ruled that the "religious character" of Shahi Idgah needs to be determined.

The high court had dismissed the Muslim side's contention that the suits filed by Hindu litigants relating to the dispute over the Shahi Idgah mosque complex adjoining the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple violated the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, and were thus not maintainable.

The 1991 Act prohibits changing the religious character of any shrine from what existed on the day of the country's Independence. It exempted only the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute from its purview.

The high court has cleared the path for all 18 consolidated suits to be considered on their merits. The Hindu side have filed these suits to claim possession following the removal of the Shahi Eidgah structure, seek the restoration of the temple, and request a permanent injunction.

In its order on August 1, the court determined that these suits are not prohibited by the Limitation Act, Waqf Act, or the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which prevents the conversion of any place of worship and ensures the preservation of the religious character of such places as they were on August 15, 1947.

The Hindu side are seeking possession of the land following the removal of the Shahi Eidgah mosque, which they claim was constructed on a site where a Krishna Janmabhoomi temple existed until it was destroyed during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

The high court dismissed the appeals from the Shahi Eidgah management committee and the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board, which challenged the validity of the suits filed by Hindu worshippers based on the Limitation Act, Waqf Act, and Places of Worship Act.

The Allahabad high court will commence hearings on all 18 suits pertaining to the Mathura Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah dispute today. Justice Mayank Kumar Jain was initially set to hear the cases on Monday.