Supreme Court Extends Stay on Survey of Mathura Mosque Until August

The Supreme Court has prolonged its earlier order, maintaining the suspension of an advocate-commissioner’s survey of the Shahi Eidgah mosque situated near the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura, until the next scheduled hearing in August.

During a session presided over by justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, the court directed the listing of the case for a comprehensive hearing in the first fortnight of August, emphasizing the need for formal issuance of notice in the plea – a procedural requirement for admitting a case for extensive deliberation.

The bench’s concise order, affirming the continuation of its January 16 directive, underscores the significance of the legal issues involved and the necessity for a detailed examination before rendering any conclusive decisions.

The forthcoming hearing will also encompass several petitions challenging the Allahabad High Court’s ruling to transfer approximately 18 suits related to the land dispute between Krishna Janmasthan and Shahi Eidgah from various Mathura civil courts to itself for adjudication.

The Supreme Court had previously stayed the Allahabad High Court’s December 14 order, which mandated a survey of the mosque. This decision followed assertions from the Hindu side, claiming that the mosque bore indications suggesting its former existence as a Hindu temple. The court acknowledged the complexity of the legal matters and deemed further scrutiny imperative.

The legal entanglement surrounding the Mathura mosque’s status has garnered significant attention, particularly in light of the ongoing dispute over the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. Both cases underscore broader issues surrounding religious sites and historical claims, prompting rigorous legal scrutiny and public debate.

With the next hearing scheduled for August, stakeholders await further developments in this protracted legal saga, which continues to provoke intense debate and scrutiny in India’s legal landscape.