Mathura temple trust files suit in Shahi Eidgah case

The Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust, which manages the overall affairs of the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple complex in Mathura, on Friday challenged a compromise between the Shahi Masjid Eidgah and a temple body that existed in the 1960s, as it sought to strengthen its claim over a disputed tract of 13.37 acre land.

The Trust sought a cancellation of an agreement under which the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Seva Sangh, a body of the temple that was dissolved later, conceded the contentious portion of land to the Eidgah in 1968.

The deal, which was finalised before the civil judge (senior division), Mathura in 1973-74, is "not binding" on the temple as the Seva Sangh had "no authority" to decide on the matter, the Trust said in a petition in the same court.

The Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi is located adjacent to the Shahi Eidgah mosque. The temple complex comprises the Keshav Dev temple, the Garbha Griha temple and the Bhagavat Bhavan.

Multiple suits have been filed in different courts of Mathura, with a common claim that the Eidgah complex was constructed on a part of 13.37-acre land belonging to the Trust.