The Supreme Court of India has expressed its support for the consolidation of lawsuits pertaining to the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah Masjid land dispute in Mathura, emphasizing the benefits of centralizing and streamlining the adjudication process. A bench consisting of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar refrained from interfering with the lower court’s order of consolidation, stating that it serves the interests of both parties by reducing the risk of conflicting rulings.
The case will be further examined in April 2025. The bench highlighted the importance of addressing the larger issue of the validity of such suits under the 1991 Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, which is currently under review by the Supreme Court. The bench also noted that challenging procedural orders was unnecessary, as they were simply part of the ongoing process of a larger legal examination.
Representatives of the mosque management committee, including advocate Tasneem Ahamadi, argued that consolidating the cases could have significant implications and requested a delay. However, the court remained firm, stating that the consolidation was beneficial for all parties involved.
The dispute arises from legal challenges over the 13.37-acre land in Mathura, home to the Shahi Eidgah Mosque, where Hindu petitioners, including the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust, seek to nullify a 1968 compromise that allowed the mosque to remain near the Krishna Janmasthan Temple.
The case gained momentum in July 2023, following challenges to a May 2023 Allahabad High Court order transferring all Hindu-filed suits to itself. In December 2023, the High Court ordered a survey of the mosque premises, which was later stayed by the Supreme Court in January 2024.
The consolidation decision follows the Supreme Court’s broader directive in December 2024, which prohibited lower courts from entertaining new suits or ordering mosque surveys related to historical temple sites. The ongoing legal battles also center around the controversial 1991 Places of Worship Act, which seeks to preserve the status of religious sites as they existed on August 15, 1947, with the notable exception of the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case.
The Union government has been directed to clarify its position on the Places of Worship Act by February 17, while the constitutionality of the Act remains a focal point in the ongoing legal debates.
