NEW DELHI: In a major development that paves the way for resumption of hearing in the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi dispute case, the Allahabad high court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by the UP Sunni Waqf Board and Shahi Idgah Trust, challenging the May 2022 order of a district judge of Mathura that upheld the maintainability of a suit filed by the petitioner deity.
The Muslim side had moved the HC challenging the order by the district judge following which it was stayed.
Dismissing the plea, Justice Prakash Padia asked the District Judge of Mathura to pass an order after hearing arguments afresh against the decision of the Civil Judge. All the parties will have to present their arguments afresh before the District Judge of Mathura.
Case file
The Muslim side had moved the HC challenging the order by the district judge following which it was stayed.
Dismissing the plea, Justice Prakash Padia asked the District Judge of Mathura to pass an order after hearing arguments afresh against the decision of the Civil Judge. All the parties will have to present their arguments afresh before the District Judge of Mathura.
Case file
- The Sri
Krishna Janmabhoomi dispute in Mathura pertains to the ownership of 13.37 acres of land. - A civil court, in a ruling in 1973, allocated land to each party on the basis of agreement reached between the mosque trust and temple management.
- In 2016, a fresh petition was moved on behalf of the deity, challenging the 1973 order. In 2020, the Hindu side’s petition was rejected by a civil judge in Mathura and was held to be “not maintainable”.
- But in May last year, a district judge ruled over the civil judge order and said the case could be taken up for hearing. Thereafter, the Muslim side moved the HC challenging this order, calling it a violation of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
- Hearing on the case had been stayed since then.
(With inputs from agencies)