Allahabad HC grants ASI one week to respond to Jama Masjid survey plea

Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court has given the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) a week to respond to a plea requesting a survey of the Jama Masjid in Agra.

The plea claims that the remains of idols of Thakur Keshav Dev, the main deity of Krishna Janmbhoomi temple, were buried in the mosque after it was attacked by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's army in 1670. The petitioner had also sought the appointment of an advocate commissioner for the survey.

Justice Mayank Kumar Jain granted ASI one week to file its reply and fixed the next hearing on August 12. The court also granted time to the counsel for the Hindu plaintiffs to file any objections they may have to an application filed by the Committee of Management Shahi Masjid Idgah of Mathura for making it a party to the case.

The court passed this order while hearing one of the 18 consolidated suits related to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah case, which was filed in the name of deity- Thakur Keshav Dev Ji Maharaj Virajman Mandir Katra Keshav Dev - through his devotee. The Hindu plaintiff in the suit claimed that Aurangzeb had demolished the temple of Keshav Dev in 1670 and buried the idol under the Jama Masjid in Agra.

Earlier on July 4, the management committee of the Shahi Masjidi Idgah of Mathura had moved the impleadment application. During the course of the hearing, a copy of the application was provided to the Hindu side plaintiff in the suit.

Input from PTI