SC refuses to stop clubbing of Mathura mosque-temple pleas

The Supreme Court on Friday expressed its reluctance to interfere with an Allahabad high court order consolidating multiple lawsuits over the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah Masjid land dispute in Mathura, observing that such consolidation serves the interests of both parties and reduces the risk of contradictory rulings.

- Utkarsh Anand

NEW DELHI:

A bench, comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and justice PV Sanjay Kumar, remarked that the grouping of cases allows a more streamlined and centralised adjudication.

Observing that the larger question of the tenability of such suits in light of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, is already pending before the apex court, the bench emphasised that challenging every procedural order is unnecessary.

"Why should we interfere with the order of consolidation in the high court? We are examining the larger issue. How does it make a difference? It's better if all similar suits are taken together. Everything is not to be contested," said the bench.