The Allahabad High Court will begin hearing all 18 lawsuits related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah dispute on Wednesday. These cases, involving a long-standing conflict over the religious site in Mathura, will be presided over by Justice Mayank Kumar Jain, who was initially scheduled to hear the suits on Monday.
The dispute revolves around the ownership of the land where the Shahi Eidgah mosque currently stands, which the Hindu worshippers claim is the original birthplace of Lord Krishna. They allege that the mosque was built on the site of the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple, which was demolished during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The Hindu side is seeking possession of the land after the removal of the Shahi Eidgah mosque.
In a significant development on August 1, the High Court rejected the pleas filed by the Shahi Eidgah management committee and the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board. These parties had challenged the maintainability of the suits brought forward by Hindu worshippers, citing the Limitation Act, the Waqf Act, and the Places of Worship Act. The court’s dismissal of these objections has paved the way for a more detailed hearing of the case.
The dispute has garnered attention due to its religious and historical significance, with both sides presenting their claims on the sacred land in Mathura.