Muslim parties' appeal over prayer rights at Teele Wali Masjid rejected
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The court of additional district judge has rejected the revision petition filed by Muslim parties challenging the lower court's ruling on the maintainability of a civil suit concerning the rights to offer prayers at Lord Shesh Nagesh Teeleshwar Mahadev Mandir. This temple is situated within the compound of the Teele Wali Masjid along the Gomti River in Uttar Pradesh's state capital.
Additional district judge Narendra Kumar (III) delivered the ruling on Wednesday in response to a petition filed by advocate Nripendra Pandey and others.
Maulana Kari Sayyed Shah Fazlul Mannan had filed the civil revision petition contesting the order issued on September 6, 2023, by the civil judge (south), which deemed the suit of Hindu parties maintainable.
Advocate Nripendra Pandey had initiated the suit in court on February 15, 2023, seeking permission for Hindus to offer prayers at the Lord Shesh Nagesh Teeleshwar Mahadev Mandir.
The civil court (junior division) is now slated to hear the application seeking rights to offer prayers at the temple. Advocate Abhay Srivastava represented the Hindu parties in court, while advocate Ritesh Rastogi represented the state government.
Another application requesting a survey of Teele Wali Masjid is scheduled for hearing on March 2 in the court of the additional district judge.
Originally filed by lawyer Hari Shankar Jain in the civil court in Lucknow in 2013 seeking a survey of the mosque, the case has remained pending since then. Muslim litigants contested the case in the court of the additional district judge, arguing its non-maintainability.
Hindu litigants asserted that the Teele Wali Masjid was originally 'Lakshman Teela,' constructed by Lakshman, the younger brother of Lord Ram. They urged the court to permit a survey of the mosque campus, particularly the area annexed by the mosque committee in 2013 through the erection of a boundary wall.
The suit further claims the existence of the Tileshwar temple inside the mosque and contends that the entire complex constitutes the location of Sheshnag Dudheshwar Mahadev.