JAUNPUR MOSQUE CHALLENGES COURT ORDER OVER TEMPLE CLAIM

The managing committee of the Atala mosque in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, has approached the Allahabad High Court to challenge a local court's order that directed the registration of a lawsuit filed by the Swaraj Vahini Association.

- CORRESPONDENT

The lawsuit claims that the mosque was originally an ancient Hindu temple.

The mosque's committee argued that the Swaraj Vahini Association, being a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, is not a "juristic person" and, therefore, can't legally initiate a lawsuit of this nature. A juristic person is an entity that is legally treated as an individual under the law.

The mosque authorities also contended that the property has been a mosque since its construction in 1398 and has always been in the possession of Muslims. They argued that no other religious group has any title over the property.