Allahabad High Court Rejects Plea To Call Shahi Idgah ‘Disputed Structure’
In a significant development in the Mathura land dispute case, the Allahabad High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by the Hindu side that sought to have the Shahi Idgah mosque officially declared a “disputed structure” in court records.
The plea, part of a larger legal battle over the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple complex, was rejected by the single-judge bench of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra. The court upheld the objection raised by the Muslim side, which had opposed any change in how the mosque is referred to in official proceedings.
The specific application was filed by Advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh on behalf of the Hindu petitioners. It had urged the court to direct its stenographer to stop using the term “Shahi Idgah Mosque” and instead use “disputed structure” throughout the case documents and in all future hearings.
The Muslim side submitted a written objection against this demand, arguing that the nomenclature of the centuries-old mosque should not be altered during the ongoing legal proceedings. After hearing arguments from both parties, the High Court sided with the objection and dismissed the Hindu side’s application.
This ruling is a notable event in the cluster of 18 petitions related to the contentious claims over the land where the Shahi Idgah mosque stands adjacent to the temple complex, which devotees believe is the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The Hindu side claims the mosque was built after demolishing a temple at the site.
The court has scheduled the next hearing in the main case for August 2, 2025.
