Prayagraj: The Allahabad High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by the Hindu side seeking to declare the Shahi Eidgah mosque in Mathura as a “disputed structure” in all future proceedings of the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah case.
The plea, filed under Application A-44 by Advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh in Suit Number 13, requested the court to instruct that the term “Shahi Eidgah mosque” be replaced with “disputed structure” in all court records and during hearings. The petitioner argued that the terminology influenced the perception of the matter and called for neutral phrasing until the case is concluded.
However, the Muslim side strongly objected to the plea and submitted a written opposition. After hearing both sides, the single-judge bench led by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra rejected the application, stating that such a declaration at this stage would be premature and inappropriate.
The decision is seen as a significant relief for the Muslim litigants, who had argued that the request was an attempt to predetermine the mosque’s status while the case is still under judicial consideration.
The Krishna Janmabhoomi legal dispute involves claims from the Hindu side seeking ownership of the land on which the Shahi Eidgah mosque, adjacent to the Krishna Janmasthan temple, stands. The Hindu side contends that the mosque was constructed over the birthplace of Lord Krishna, a claim the Muslim side disputes.
Currently, 18 different petitions filed by the Hindu side in connection with the case are being heard. The case remains one of the most sensitive religious disputes in the country, following the precedent of the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid verdict.
