Supreme Court’s Mediation Proposal Rejected
The Supreme Court of India’s attempt to mediate three significant temple-mosque disputes in Uttar Pradesh has been declined by both Hindu and Muslim litigants. The court had suggested mediation for the Gyanvapi mosque dispute in Varanasi, the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute in Mathura, and the Sambhal mosque case, but the involved parties have chosen to pursue legal proceedings instead.
Background of the Disputes
These cases are part of the Supreme Court’s initiative known as the “Supreme Court Action for Mediated Adjudication and Disputes Harmonization Across Nation (Samadhan Samaroh) 2026.” The Gyanvapi mosque case centers around a civil court dispute regarding the religious nature of the Gyanvapi compound. The Hindu claimants argue that Hindu prayers were conducted in the mosque’s cellar until 1993, when the practice was allegedly halted by the Mulayam Singh Yadav government. They assert that a portion of an ancient temple was demolished by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the 17th century to construct the mosque. Conversely, the Muslim side contends that the mosque existed before Aurangzeb’s reign and has undergone various changes over time.
The Hindu parties seek the restoration of the temple, claiming the land’s Hindu character remains unchanged, despite the mosque’s construction. Their legal position is based on the argument that the dispute is not affected by the Places of Worship Act of 1991, as it predates the Act.
Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Dispute
This case involves a claim by Hindu plaintiffs that the Shahi Idgah Masjid, built on Krishna Janmabhoomi land, should be removed. Filed on behalf of Bhagwan Shri Krishna Virajman and certain Hindu devotees, the suit argues that the Shahi-Idgah Mosque is essentially a Hindu temple. Initially dismissed by a civil court in September 2020 due to the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the case was later reinstated by the Mathura District Court upon appeal.
Sambhal Mosque Controversy
The Sambhal mosque dispute began with a plea by advocate Hari Shankar Jain and others, claiming that a temple was demolished to build the mosque during the Mughal era. A civil court in Sambhal instructed an advocate commissioner to survey the Shahi Jama Masjid on November 19, 2024. The order led to violence, resulting in four deaths, as stone-pelting and vehicle-torching incidents broke out. Tensions escalated further when surveyors returned to Chandausi town on November 24, 2024, for a second survey.
