Shahi Idgah: Court agrees to hear mosque again after reserving order

Prayagraj: In the dispute of Shahi Idgah-Krishna Janmabhoomi in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, the Allahabad High Court agreed to hear the masjid's counsel once again. This was an unexpected development in the case of the masjid challenging Hindu parties' plea demanding the expulsion of the mosque from the mosque-temple complex after the court had concluded the hearing and reserved its verdict.

Masjid's counsel, Mehmood Pracha, had moved the high court to request to hear him on the matter and video record the court proceedings, which the court of Justice Mayank Kumar Jain agreed to. Pracha will be heard on June 4 through video conferencing, IANS reported.

On May 31, Tasneem Ahmadi, who appeared for the mosque committee, concluded her arguments on the masjid's plea challenging the maintainability of 18 suits by the Hindu side demanding the possession of the masjid-temple property and removal of the temple from the land.

Earlier, on behalf of the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board, Afzal Ahmad had already concluded his arguments in the suits, where the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board is arrayed as a defendant.

Thereafter, Mehmood Pracha, the counsel, addressed the court through video conferencing on behalf of the management committee of Shahi Idgah Masjid and concluded the same. The court had also heard the counsels for Hindu side plaintiffs – Hari Shankar Jain, Rina N Singh, Saurabh Tiwari and others at length.

After the aforesaid proceedings, Justice Mayank Kumar Jain, in the open court, communicated to the counsel for the parties on Friday that the order was being reserved.

However, after the conclusion of the arguments and reserved the order in the open court, an application was filed on behalf of the management committee of Shahi Idgah Masjid, with the prayers to "issue appropriate directions to ensure that the right of an audience through video conferencing of Mehmood Pracha, whose vakalatnama is on the record, is not obstructed in any manner".

The prayer also added that the defendant's right to be heard was protected by appropriate measures through video recording of the proceedings.

The court noted that Mehmood Pracha remained present through video conferencing on several occasions and was also present in person before the court. He had ample opportunity to argue the matter, the court added.

The court further made it clear, saying that "The right of audience to any of the counsel, who desired to appear and argue the matter through video conferencing, was never obstructed as the entire hearing, which commenced from February 22, 2024, was conducted in the presence of the parties to the suits as well as their respective counsels".

However, keeping in view the principle of transparency, the court accepted the request of Mehmood Pracha, saying, "However, given the phrase' justice should not only be done but must also be seen to be done' and to do complete justice in the matter, this court feels appropriate to provide an opportunity to Mehmood Pracha, advocate to address the court through video conferencing."