Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court on Friday examined pending applications in the Krishna Janmabhumi-Shahi Idgah mosque dispute in Mathura and directed the parties to file their objections by February 20.
Justice Avnish Saxena scheduled the next hearing after listening to the counsels for the parties.
An application was filed by Vishnu Shankar Jain, seeking a representative to handle all suits collectively. The court said it would pass an order on this application on the next date.
Earlier, the court noted, “The record is voluminous. The parties to the suit may file objections in all pending applications so that they could be decided at an early date.”
The dispute involves 18 suits filed by the Hindu side, seeking possession of land following the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque, as well as the restoration of the temple.
On August 1, 2024, the high court had rejected applications from the Muslim side challenging the maintainability of the Hindu worshippers’ suits. The court had also held that the suits were not barred under the Limitation Act, Waqf Act, or the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which prohibits conversion of any religious structure as it existed on August 15, 1947.
At the centre of the controversy is the Mughal-era Shahi Idgah mosque, built during Emperor Aurangzeb’s reign, which a section of Hindus claim was constructed after demolishing a temple at the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
With IANS inputs