Allahabad HC allows survey of Mathura's Shahi Idgah Masjid
The Allahabad High Court on Thursday granted permission for a survey of the Shahi Idgah Masjid in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura. It will decide upon the formation of the panel that will conduct the survey on Monday. The order came on a plea filed by the Hindu Sena, which claims that Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb built the mosque by demolishing a temple marking Lord Krishna's birthplace.
Why does this story matter?
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) recently surveyed the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and is expected to submit its report in the coming days. Both mosques are among the several that Hindu right-wing groups claim were previously temples destroyed by Muslim "invaders." After its formation, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fanned the issue in the 1980s and 1990s as a purported reclamation project.
Muslim side expected to move Supreme Court
A Mathura court in December 2022 ordered the ASI to survey the mosque, but the Muslim side appealed before the Allahabad HC. The Muslim side is now expected to move the Supreme Court. It earlier sought the appeal's dismissal, citing the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which mandates the status of religious places to be maintained as it was on the day of independence.
Hindu side claims their religious motifs present in mosque
The Hindu side claims that the 17th-century mosque has some Hindu motifs, such as engravings of lotus on the walls and other shapes resembling those of the Sheshnag—a serpentine demigod in Hindu mythology. It claims these as evidence that the mosque was built by destroying the alleged Katra Keshav Dev temple. There are 18 cases related to the dispute before the Allahabad HC.
Hindu and Muslim signed agreement in 1968
In 1968, the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan and the Shahi Masjid Idgah Trust signed an agreement giving around 10.9 acres of land for rebuilding the Krishna Janmbhoomi temple and the remaining 2.5 acres for the existing mosque. However, the Hindu side has now sought full ownership of the contested 13.37 acres of land.
