Krishna Janmabhoomi Row: HC allows Shahi Eidgah inspection to ascertain claims

The Allahabad High Court has ordered appointment of a commissioner to inspect the Shahi Eidgah mosque near the Krishna Janmasthan temple in Mathura to ascertain if it was built over remains of a temple. The panel will also investigate claims that there are religious symbols inside the mosque premises.

"The commissioner report does not affect merits of the case," justice Mayank Kumar Jain said in his order. During the inspection, the sanctity of the complex should be maintained and no harm should be caused to the structure, the HC order said.

Modalities on composition of the commission will be decided during the next hearing on Monday. The court rejected the mosque committee argument that the application for rejection of the plaints be decided before deciding on commissioner's appointment. One of the counsels for the mosque committee, Tanvir Ahmed, told ET that the defendants would study the order before deciding on their next course of action.


The plaintiffs relied heavily on court view in the Gyanvapi case - allowing a commissioner-led survey and second survey by ASI - to further their arguments. The petition moved on behalf of the deity through advocates Hari Shankar Jain, Vishnu Jain, and others, as part of a 2020 suit contended that the mosque 'rested over the birthplace of Lord Krishna' and many 'signs and symbols showed a temple existed there earlier,' necessitating appointment of a commission to find the 'correct position of the property.' It claimed a 'lotus-shaped pillar' and image of Sheshnag inside the mosque complex, along with 'Hindu religious engravings' at the base of the mosque pillar. "As per the averment made in the plaint it is the need of the hour that the correct position of the property be brought on record," HS Jain argued.