On Friday, a Mathura District Court has admitted the appeal challenging the dismissal of a suit moved to remove the Shahi Idgah Masjid at Mathura, on grounds that it was built over Krishna Janmabhoomi land.
The district court Judge Sadhna Rani Thakur while hearing the appeal filed by Bhagwan Shrikrishna Virajman and Asthan Shri Krishna Janmbhoomi, has issued notices to Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board, Trust Masjid Idgah, Srikrishna Janamsthan Trust, and Sri Krishna Janam Bhoomi Seva Sangh in this regard.
In September, a group of six Hindu men and women filed a petition before the Mathura civil court claiming that the Idgah mosque built during the rule of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, in 1669-70, is the exact birthplace of Krishna. The petition demanded the annulment of a 1968 Mathura court ruling, ratifying a land deal reached between the Shree Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan and Shahi Idgah Management Committee, perpetuating the existence of the mosque within the temple premises.
However, on September 30, the Mathura civil judge upheld the above understanding between the two trusts and dismissed the suit. Thus, they appealed in the district court on October 12 terming the order to be “erroneous and against facts”.
While seeking the removal of encroachment and superstructure illegally raise on it by Committee of Management of alleged Trust Shahi Masjid Idgah with the consent of Sunni Central Board of Waqf, the present petition asserted that “Every inch of the land of Katra Keshav Dev (as the place is known historically) is sacred for devotees of Lord Shree Krishna and (the) Hindu community.”
Further, the appellants stressed that as the devotees of Lord Krishna, they have a right to move the suit in view of their fundamental religious rights under Article 25 of the Constitution of India.
