Krishna Janambhumi Dispute:
Mathura Court Directs Plaintiffs To Provide Plaint Copy To Shahi Idgah Committee

A local Court in Mathura has directed the plaintiffs in the Sri Krishna Janambhumi-Shahi Idgah Mosque dispute case to provide a copy of their plaint to the side of the defendants including the U.P. Sunni Central Waqf Board and Committee of Management, Trust Alleged Shahi Masjid Idgah.

The case was heard for the first time in the local court after the Suit (filed on behalf of the deity Bhagwan Shrikrishna Virajman) was restored by the Mathura district court saying it was maintainable and petitioners had the right to file it. The matter has been transferred to the Court of Civil Judges (Senior Div.) Mathura Jyoti. A suit had been filed in September 2020 on behalf of the deity Bhagwan Shrikrishna Virajman seeking the removal of the Shahi Eidgah (mosque), adjacent to the Shri Krishna temple complex in Mathura, and the transfer of 13.37-acre land to the deity.

The Petitioners/Revisionists Bhagwan Shrikrishna Virajman, Asthana Shrikrishna Janam Bhoomi through next Friend Ranjana Agnihotri had sought cancellation of a compromise decree of 1974 by saying that the agreement between Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan and Shahi Idgah Trust in the year 1973, on the basis of which an earlier suit filed in 1964 was compromised, was fraudulent.

In the agreement concerned, the Sansthan had conceded the property of Deity/Trust in favor of Trust Masjid Idgah. In the 2020 suit, the plaintiffs challenged that agreement and compromise decree of 1974.

However, a civil court in Mathura (U.P) on September 30, 2020, had refused to admit the suit and rejected the plaint under Order VII Rule 11 of CPC on the ground that the Plaintiffs, being the devotees/worshippers of Lord Krishna, have no right to file the suit.

When that order was challenged in revision by the petitioners, the District & Sessions Judge Mathura, Rajeev Bharti, on May 19, 202 allowed their plea and directed the Trial court to hear both the parties and to pass appropriate order.

The Court has also held that the suit to remove the Shahi Idgah Masjid, allegedly built on the land of Shrikrishna Janam Bhoomi was maintainable. With this, the Court overturned a civil court order dismissing the suit in September 2020.

It may be noted that the Mathura's Shahi Idgah Masjid is located next to the Krishna Janmabhoomi, which is believed to be the birthplace of the Hindu deity Krishna. Significant, a suit had been filed seeking the removal of the Shahi Eidgah (mosque), adjacent to the Shri Krishna temple complex in Mathura, and the transfer of 13.37-acre land to the deity.

Written By: Anjali Rathore - Manipal University Jaipur