The Allahabad High Court granted permission on Thursday for the primary survey of the Shahi Idgah complex, situated adjacent to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The court sanctioned a court-monitored three-member team of advocate commissioners to conduct the survey. The specifics of the survey’s implementation will be determined on December 18 when the court resumes the hearing.
Vishnu Shankar Jain, the lawyer representing the Hindu side, expressed satisfaction, stating, “Our application, where we demanded a survey of Shahi Idgah Masjid by an advocate commissioner, has been approved by the Allahabad High Court.” He emphasized that the demand stemmed from the belief that the Shahi Idgah Masjid exhibits signs and symbols of a Hindu temple, and the appointment of an advocate commissioner is essential to ascertain the actual situation. Jain highlighted the court’s decision as a landmark judgment.
Justice Mayank Kumar Jain, on November 16, had reserved the order on the application.
The Hindu side contends that the Idgah mosque was built by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb by demolishing a temple on 13.37 acres of Lord Krishna’s birthplace. The original suit about this claim is pending before the High Court.
The High Court currently has 17 suits pending, with the primary requests seeking a declaration that the disputed land, where the Shahi Eidgah Mosque stands, belongs to the deity Lord Shri Krishna Virajman. Additionally, these suits seek a directive for the removal of the mosque.
