HC rejects plea to call Mathura’s Shahi Eidgah disputed structure

The Allahabad high court on Friday dismissed an application by Hindu petitioners asking that the Shahi Eidgah mosque in Mathura be referred to as a “disputed structure” during the legal proceedings on the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah title dispute.

- Jitendra Sarin

The controversy is related to the Mughal-era mosque at Mathura, which Hindu groups say was built by emperor Aurangzeb after demolishing a temple at the mythical birthplace of Lord Krishna. The suits filed by Hindu litigants since 2022 seek the removal of the Shahi Eidgah mosque as well as restoration of the temple.

The Muslim side has rejected the petitions and said they are barred under the 1991 Places of Worship Act, which freezes the religious character of shrines as they were at the time of independence, barring the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya.

‘The Hindu petitioners asked the court to direct the stenographer to use word “disputed structure” in place of order “Shahi Idgah Mosque” during further proceedings of the suits and other connected matter. The Muslim side said it was an abuse of the process of the law.