Allahabad HC stays proceedings in suit on removal of Shahi Idgah masjid

In a significant development in the Krishna Janmabhoomi – Shahi Idgah mosque dispute, the Allahabad High Court has now stayed proceedings in a suit filed before a Mathura court that had sought removal of the Idgah.

Besides, the court also directed the opposite parties - devotees of Bhagwan Krishna Virajman and others - who have filed the case before the trial court at Mathura, to file a reply (counter affidavit) by the next date of hearing which will be fixed by the registrar of this court later.

Hearing a petition filed by the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board, Justice Salil Kumar Rai observed, "The matter requires consideration. The office shall issue notice to the respondents - devotees of Lord Krishna who had filed a case before the trial court - fixing any date after eight weeks by which date the respondents may file their counter-affidavit. The petitioner shall have four weeks thereafter to file its rejoinder affidavit in response to the counter-affidavit."

The petitioners argued that the District Judge did not have the pecuniary jurisdiction to hear the revision as the value of the revision was more that RS 25,00,000/- (Rs 25 lakhs only).

They directed that notice be issued to the respondents in the case, giving them the opportunity to file counter affidavits within eight weeks, and subsequently, the petitioners are to file their rejoinders in four weeks after that. The court directed that until then, further proceedings in the trial in the case before shall remain stayed.

Earlier, a case was filed by the devotees of Lord Krishna Virajman and others before the trial court at Mathura in 2020, demanding that they may be allowed to worship at what they term as the actual birthplace of Lord Krishna in Mathura, though this place is reportedly in possession of Trust Masjid Idgah (Shahi idgah Masjid). At one stage, the trial court at Mathura had declined to hear the matter. Hence, the devotees filed a revision before the district judge, Mathura.

Subsequently, by the order dated May 19, 2022, the revisional court (district judge) of Mathura had directed the trial court to hear the case, whereby a demand was made that the devotees of Lord Shri Krishna may be allowed to worship at the actual birthplace once again and pass appropriate order in it.