Supreme Court Declines Stay On High Court Order In Mathura Land Dispute

In the ongoing Krishna Janmabhoomi land dispute in Mathura, the Supreme Court has declined to halt the order approving the survey of the Shahi Idgah on the contested land. Hindu groups assert that the mosque was constructed on Lord Krishna’s birthplace, prompting a survey demand admitted by a local court in December. Despite objections from the Muslim side in the High Court, the Supreme Court has not issued a stay, allowing the proceedings to continue. Vishnu Shankar Jain, the Hindu side’s lawyer, confirmed that the challenge to the transfer order will be addressed by the Supreme Court on January 9.

A groundbreaking decision from the Allahabad High Court recently granted approval for a scientific survey on the Shahi Idgah complex in Mathura. The court appointed an advocate commissioner and provisionally approved the survey, with the commission’s modalities to be determined on December 18.

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The dispute arose when Ranjana Agnihotri of Lucknow filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of 13.37 acres of land at Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi. Agnihotri seeks the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque, allegedly constructed in 1669-70 on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, within the premises of the Katra Keshav Dev temple near Lord Krishna’s birthplace.

The Muslim side, invoking the Places of Worship Act of 1991, aimed at maintaining the religious status of places of worship as of August 15, 1947, sought the dismissal of the petition.

In the Allahabad High Court, there are a total of 18 cases related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Masjid dispute, following the court’s decision to centralize all pending suits from the local court in Mathura.