Supreme Court Halts Survey of Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura Amidst Controversy

In a significant development, the Supreme Court has temporarily paused the Allahabad High Court’s order permitting a court-monitored survey of the 17th-century Shahi Idgah Mosque located in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. This decision, akin to the recent survey conducted at the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, has ignited tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities. Hindu outfits claim that the mosque stands on the birthplace of Lord Krishna and have demanded a thorough survey to ascertain historical facts. The legal dispute, initiated by the Hindu side’s petition in a Mathura court seeking full ownership of the contested 13.37 acres of land, alleges that the mosque was constructed after the demolition of the Katra Keshav Dev temple under the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

The legal battle intensifies as the Hindu petitioners present their case, citing carvings of lotuses and shapes resembling ‘sheshnag’ on the mosque’s walls as evidence that the structure was erected over the ancient temple. They argue that these carvings indicate the mosque’s construction involved the destruction of the pre-existing Hindu place of worship. The Muslim side, invoking the Places of Worship Act of 1991, seeks the dismissal of the petition by emphasizing the preservation of the religious status quo of any place of worship as of August 15, 1947. With the Supreme Court intervention, the contentious issue surrounding the Shahi Idgah Mosque is poised to receive heightened scrutiny in the coming legal proceedings.

The Supreme Court’s decision to pause the survey of the Shahi Idgah Mosque comes against the backdrop of rising tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities in Mathura. The mosque, believed by Hindu outfits to be standing on Lord Krishna’s birthplace, is at the center of a legal dispute that alleges the destruction of a Hindu temple during its construction. The court-monitored survey, similar to the one conducted at the Gyanvapi Mosque, has been temporarily halted, leaving the fate of the contested land hanging in the balance. The legal tussle, laden with historical and religious implications, is expected to be a focal point as the Supreme Court navigates the complex terrain of cultural heritage and religious sentiments.

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