The Supreme Court has rescheduled the hearing of the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute to December 9 due to lack of time. The main issue is whether an intra-court appeal against rejection of a petition under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC is maintainable before the Allahabad High Court. Apart from this, three special leave petitions have been filed by the Shahi Idgah Masjid and Sunni Central Waqf Board challenging previous court orders related to the dispute. The dispute pertains to the removal of 18 suits filed by the deity and Hindu worshippers for the removal of Shahi Idgah mosque, with the mosque committee arguing that the suits are barred by the Places of Worship Act.
The Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Dispute: An Enduring Legal Battle
The Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute is a long-standing legal battle over a piece of land in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, where both Hindus and Muslims claim religious significance.
Background
The dispute stems from the belief that the land where the Shahi Idgah mosque currently stands is the birthplace of Lord Krishna, a revered Hindu deity. In the 16th century, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is said to have demolished a Hindu temple on the site and built the mosque in its place.
Legal Proceedings
In the 1960s, a series of lawsuits were filed by Hindu worshippers seeking the removal of the mosque and the establishment of a Hindu temple on the land. However, in 1994, the Allahabad High Court dismissed the suits, citing the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which prohibits the conversion of any place of worship from its existing status as of August 15, 1947.
The Hindu petitioners appealed the High Court's decision, but the Supreme Court rejected the appeal in 2019. In April 2021, the Central Civil Court in Mathura ordered the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque, but this decision was stayed by the Allahabad High Court.
Current Legal Status
The Supreme Court has rescheduled the hearing of the appeal against the removal of the Shahi Idgah mosque to December 9, 2023. Along with this appeal, the court is also hearing three special leave petitions filed by the Shahi Idgah Masjid and Sunni Central Waqf Board challenging previous court orders related to the dispute.
Top 5 FAQs
1. What is the main issue in the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute? The main issue is whether the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act applies to the land in question, as the Hindu petitioners claim that it was not a place of worship at the time of the Act's implementation.
2. Why has the Supreme Court rescheduled the hearing? The hearing was rescheduled due to lack of time to hear all the petitions.
3. What is the Places of Worship Act? The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 prohibits the conversion of any place of worship from its existing status as of August 15, 1947.
4. What was the Allahabad High Court's previous decision on the dispute? The High Court dismissed the Hindu petitioners' suits, citing the Places of Worship Act.
5. What is the status of the Central Civil Court's order to remove the Shahi Idgah mosque? The order has been stayed by the Allahabad High Court.
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