What is the Shahi Idgah-Krishna Janmabhoomi dispute?
The Shahi Idgah-Krishna Janmabhoomi dispute is a long-standing and sensitive religious conflict in India centered around a complex in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.
The disputed land houses the Shahi Idgah mosque, which Muslims claim has existed for centuries.
Hindus, believe it stands on the birthplace of Lord Krishna, also known as Krishna Janmabhoomi.
The dispute dates back to the 17th century when Mughal emperor Aurangzeb allegedly
demolished a temple to build the mosque.
Hindu says, the cite historical accounts, archaeological findings, and religious significance to claim ownership of the entire complex.
They often point to architectural elements such as carvings on the mosque walls as remnants of the temple.
Muslim says, they emphasize the mosque's long-standing presence and argue that any claims on the basis of unverified historical narratives are unfounded.
What has the Allahabad High Court said?
The order of inspection of the Shahi Idgah was pronounced by Justice Mayank Kumar Jain who maintained that “during the execution of the commission, the sanctity of the campus can be directed to be maintained strictly.”
The plea for a survey was filed on behalf of the Hindu deity, Shri Krishna and seven others.
In their original suit pending before this court claimed that the mosque was built over the birthplace of Shri Krishna on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1670.
Since the Babri Masjid judgment in 2019, nine cases related to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi and Shahi Idgah Masjid, have been filed in the Mathura court.
The Allahabad High Court transferred to itself all the suits pending before the Mathura Court on various reliefs pertaining to the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Mosque dispute.
The lawyers of the U.P. Sunni Central Waqf Board and the Shahi Idgah Masjid Committee contended in the High Court that “the Shahi Idgah Masjid does not fall within the ambit of 13.37 acres land at Katra Keshav Dev.
That the “place of birth of Lord Krishna does not lie beneath the Mosque.
The claim of plaintiffs is based on guess work and is not substantiated by any documentary evidence.”
When the Committee of Management Trust of the Shahi Idgah Masjid approached the Supreme Court for a stay on the survey, the apex court did not provide any relief.
What does Places of Worship Act say?
Even as the modalities of the survey are being worked out, the mosque committee maintains that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 prohibits changing the character of any
place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947.
In 2020, Lucknow-based Vishwa Bhadra Pujari Purohit Mahasangh had filed a petition in the Supreme Court to declare Section 4 of the 1991.
The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind countered, arguing that the Act prohibits conversion of any place of worship, and in so doing, speaks to the future.
In the M. Siddiq versus Suresh Das case, popularly called the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi verdict, the apex court had held that the Places of Worship Act, imposed a non-derogable obligation towards enforcing our commitment to secularism.
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