Krishna Janmabhoomi row: Allahabad HC dismisses plea, says won't refer to Shahi Eidgah as 'disputed structure'

The dispute involves the Shahi Eidgah mosque in Mathura.

The Allahabad High Court on Friday dismissed a plea by the Committee of Management of the Shahi Jama Masjid that sought to declare the Shahi Idgah mosque in Sambhal a disputed structure, according to  ANI.

According to Live Law, a bench of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra orally said that the application was being dismissed "at this stage". The committee had challenged an earlier order by a local Sambhal court that allowed a survey of the mosque premises.

The petition was filed by the Hindu side petitioner, advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh on March 5, 2025. He urged the court to recognise the Shahi Eidgah mosque as a structure built after demolishing an ancient temple believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

What is the case?

The mosque, built in the 17th century during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, was believed to have been built at Krishna Janmasthan, the site where Lord Krishna was born. The land of the Shahi Idgah Masjid has been part of several litigations filed before the Mathura court and waiting to be heard in the Allahabad High Court.

The case stems from a suit in the court of Civil Judge Senior Division (III) by Bal Krishna through Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta and others for shifting of the Shahi Masjid Idgah. The group claims that the Mosque was constructed on a part of the 13.37-acre land of the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust.

In 1968, a "compromise agreement" was brokered between the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan, which is the temple management authority, and the Trust Shahi Masjid Eidgah, allowing both places of worship to operate simultaneously. However, the validity of this agreement has now been challenged in the fresh suits by parties seeking various forms of relief in courts with respect to Krishna Janmabhoomi. The litigants' contention is that the compromise agreement was made fraudulently and is invalid in law. Claiming a right to worship at the disputed site, many of them have sought the Shahi Eidgah mosque's removal, according to Live Law.

Meanwhile, hearings are still underway on 18 petitions filed by the Hindu side. The case is currently being heard by a single-judge bench led by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra.