High Court Rejects Plea To Declare Shahi Idgah Mosque As Disputed Structure
The Allahabad High Court on Friday dismissed a plea seeking a direction that the word "disputed structure" be used in place of "Shahi Eidgah Mosque" of Mathura.
The application was moved with a prayer to direct the stenographer concerned to use the word "disputed structure" in place of "Shahi Idgah Mosque" in the entire further proceedings of this original suit along with other connected matters.
The application was supported by an affidavit of advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh. On the other hand, a written objection was filed on behalf of defendants.
The order was passed by Justice Ram Manohar Narain Mishra hearing a bunch of original suits relating to Krishna Janmabhoomi and Shahi Idgah mosque dispute in Mathura.
The Hindu side has filed 18 suits for possession of land after removal of the structure of Shahi Idgah masjid as well as for restoration of the temple and for permanent injunction.
Earlier, at one stage on August 1, 2024, the high court had rejected applications of the Muslim side challenging maintainability of suits of Hindu worshippers and held that all suits of Hindu worshippers are maintainable.
In the August 1 order, the court had also held that these suits are not barred by Limitation Act, Waqf Act and Places of Worship Act,1991, which prohibit conversion of any religious structure as existed on August, 15, 1947.
At another stage, on October 23, 2024, the high court had rejected an application moved by the Shahi Idgah mosque committee to recall the high court's January 11, 2024 order consolidating all suits filed in connection with the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah dispute at Mathura.
The controversy is related to the Aurangazeb-era mosque which is alleged to have been built after demolishing a temple at the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
9 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Got caught up in sharp contests among political parties: ECI to Supreme Court
The Election Commission of India (ECI) told the Supreme Court on Thursday (August 14, 2025) that it got 'caught up' in the 'sharp contests' among political parties. Appearing before a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, for the ECI, pointed to the allegations raised against it about EVMs, and now the portrayal of the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar as 'citizenship screening'. 'Today is a time of sharp political contest. The ECI is caught up in this sharp contest between political parties,' Mr. Dwivedi submitted. Justice Kant referred to the situation as 'political hostility'. Mr. Dwivedi opened his counter-submissions to the SIR challenge by reminiscing how India had lived in a 'euphoric state' after Independence. During the time of the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress had held 'complete sway'. From the late 1960s, Mr. Dwivedi said the political struggles and break-ups had emerged. 'The Congress split up, the Emergency, these were times when political contest came out sharply in the open,' he submitted: He then referred to the era of Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan. 'He did many good things, but overstepped too,' Mr. Dwivedi said. He crossed over to the coalition governments and concluded with the EC bearing the brunt of the current political contest among parties. 'Political parties have the necessity to project certain things as realities in the public domain. We understand. We restrain ourselves,' Mr. Dwivedi said He referred to how the petitioners in the Bihar SIR case depict Bihar as living in a dark age. 'It is a land of enlightenment,' Mr. Dwivedi remarked. However, Justice Kant intervened to note with a reality-check that there were 'populations in Bihar living in poverty too'.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
39 minutes ago
- Business Standard
SC tells EC to publish Bihar's deleted voters list with reasons by Aug 19
The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish, before 19 August, the names of voters excluded from the draft electoral roll after the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar. The Court said the reasons for the omission of about 65 lakh voters must be provided, and the names should be searchable online using Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers. It directed that a soft copy of the deleted voters list be available on district electoral officers' websites. 'The list of 65 lakh voters, whose names appeared in the 2025 list but are not included in the draft list, shall be displayed on the websites of district electoral officers. The information would be booth-wise but can be accessed by referring to EPIC numbers. The lists shall also be published on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar,' the Court said. The apex court also told the ECI to accept Aadhaar cards as an acceptable document for establishing identity. 'Your list of 11 documents seems citizen-friendly, but Aadhaar and EPIC are readily available… Your notice can say that those who have not submitted so far can submit their Aadhaar and EPIC also,' Justice Bagchi said. A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi is hearing petitions challenging the EC's 24 June directive ordering an SIR of Bihar's electoral roll. The directive requires voters not listed in the 2003 electoral roll to submit documents proving their citizenship. Those born after December 2004 must also furnish the citizenship documents of both parents, with additional requirements if a parent is a foreign national. Apart from the above directions, the Bench on Thursday also ordered the ECI to publicise the deleted voters list via newspapers, electronic media, and social media. A printed booth-wise list of deleted voters, with reasons for deletion, must also be displayed at panchayat and block development offices, the Court said. All these directions must be complied with before Tuesday. 'For a migrant worker who has been deleted as dead, even if he is illiterate, his neighbours or friends would alert him… It is only fair to have a procedure that does not block a person from exercising his right to adult franchise. There are civil consequences involved here,' Justice Kant told Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the ECI. The Court said voters have a right to know, and a high degree of transparency is required to inspire confidence. 'People have a right to know. A high degree of transparency is required to inspire voters' confidence. Put up the names of excluded electors with reasons out there in the public domain for all to see,' Justice Bagchi told the ECI. On Wednesday, the top court had observed that while the exclusionary argument against Aadhaar is understood, the option of 11 documents in Bihar's SIR to prove citizenship is 'voter-friendly rather than restrictive'. It had earlier said that if there was 'mass exclusion' of voters in the SIR exercise in Bihar, it would 'step in'. The petitioners include the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Yogendra Yadav, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha, Congress leader K C Venugopal, and Mujahid Alam.
The Hindu
39 minutes ago
- The Hindu
BJP accuses Congress govt. of ‘smear campaign' against Dharmasthala, Heggade
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday questioned the manner in which the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was conducting a probe into the alleged case of mass burials at Dharmasthala and accused the Congress government of a 'smear campaign' against the Dharmasthala temple and its pattadhikari D. Veerendra Heggade. Former Minister V. Sunil Kumar, who initiated the debate in the Legislative Assembly, alleged that under the pretext of the probe, the government had 'hatched a conspiracy' to spread falsehood against Hindu dharma and the place. Not a single FIR had been filed despite hundreds of social media posts 'slandering' the temple, Shri Manjunatha Swamy, and Dr. Heggade, he said, and questioned the government's silence. There had been a deliberate smear campaign by certain individuals and the government's apparent sympathy towards them has raised suspicion, the BJP leader claimed. Stating that no one was opposing justice for Soujanya, who was murdered in 2012, he said some YouTubers, in the name of freedom of expression, were attacking religious beliefs. The BJP member questioned the government's 'agenda' behind the probe and suspected the role of the INDIA bloc and the Congress high command in the entire episode. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok, members S. Suresh Kumar, Araga Jnanendra, B.Y. Vijayendra, Harish Poonja, S.R. Vishwanath, Aravind Bellad (all BJP), and Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal spoke against the government and demanded continuation of SIT probe to identify the people, organisations, and alleged source of funding behind the 'smear campaign' against the temple. Mr. Suresh Kumar claimed the SIT had 'no common sense' and it has been dancing to the tunes of the complainant. Mr. Ashok claimed there was 'a gang' behind the complaint and it had put pressure on the Chief Minister to order the probe. Terming the mask-wearing person (the complainant) as 'Spiderman' who had been enjoying all privileges and was provided security, he said lakhs of taxpayers' money had been spent on the digging. He demanded a NIA probe to nab groups supporting the complainant and sponsoring the 'smear campaign'. Mr. Poonja, who represents Belthangady, demanded that the SIT report be made public. Mr. Jnanendra said the police should have conducted a preliminary probe of the complainant before starting the digging. Mr. Yatnal warned a 'Ayodhya-like movement will be launched' if the government did not stop. All BJP members demanded a halt on the social media posts, a narco test of the complainant, and tabling of the interim probe report. SIT probe aimed at revealing truth: Home Minister In reply to the Opposition's remarks against the government, Home Minister G. Parameshwara said the probe 'should not take a political or a dharmic turn.' In a terse reply to the Opposition, he said: 'We have not formed SIT under any pressure. The probe is aimed at unearthing the truth and ensuring justice. We have huge respect for Dharmasthala.' The government has given a free hand to the SIT and action would be taken against any persons who launch false campaigns. He noted the rural development and women empowerment projects, education provided to lakhs of students by trusts headed by the pattadhikari and asked BJP members: 'Don't you need a probe for Dr. Heggade to come clean? Truth will come out as per the framework of the law.' The Home minister is expected to provide a detailed reply on Monday.
