Allahabad High Court Permits Representative Suit in Krishna Janmabhoomi–Shahi Eidgah Dispute, Paving Way for Unified Legal Proceedings
By Rajesh Pandey
In a significant development in the long-standing Krishna Janmabhoomi–Shahi Eidgah title dispute of Mathura, the Allahabad High Court on Friday granted permission to the Hindu side to pursue Original Suit No. 17 of 2023 as a representative suit.
This effectively allows the plaintiff—Bhagwan Shri Krishna Virajman and four others—to act on behalf of a broader group of devotees who share the same religious and legal interest in the matter.
#RepresentativeSuit #KrishnaJanmabhoomi
The bench of Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra, while delivering the order, accepted the application filed under Order 1 Rule 8 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), which enables a person or a group of persons to sue or defend a legal action on behalf of numerous individuals having the same interest in the suit.
This move is aimed at streamlining the adjudication process of the 18 different suits filed by the Hindu side about the title dispute. Going forward, Suit No. 17 will represent all related claims and serve as the lead case for all interested parties involved.
#LegalUnification #HinduPlaintiffs
The high court also directed that within 15 days, a public notice be issued in a national newspaper, at the expense of the plaintiffs. This notice will inform all persons who may have a shared interest in the case and wish to be represented or associated with the outcome of the suit.
Meanwhile, the court adjourned the hearing in the consolidated matter until August 22, giving all concerned parties time to respond and prepare in light of the representative capacity status now granted to the suit.
#NextHearingAugust22
This development is part of the broader legal battle surrounding the historical and religious significance of the site in Mathura, where the Shahi Eidgah mosque, built during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, is alleged by the Hindu petitioners to have been constructed after the demolition of a temple marking the birthplace of Lord Krishna.
The Hindu side is seeking possession of the land, removal of the Shahi Eidgah structure, restoration of the original temple, and a permanent injunction to protect the site from future encroachments.
#RestoreKrishnaTemple
It is notable that on July 4, the court had rejected an application by the Hindu petitioners that sought a directive requiring all references to the “Shahi Idgah mosque” in the case be replaced with the phrase “disputed structure.”
The court’s refusal emphasized maintaining legal precision in terminology at this stage of the proceedings.
This legal battle has gained further prominence since May 2023, when the Allahabad High Court ordered the transfer of all related suits from lower courts in Mathura to itself to ensure a unified and consistent adjudication process at the High Court level.
#HighCourtOversight
As this sensitive and historically layered dispute progresses, the Allahabad High Court’s decision to allow a representative suit is expected to expedite proceedings and provide a consolidated legal framework to address the claims of thousands of Hindu devotees who view the site as sacrosanct.
The case continues to draw national attention and remains one of the most closely watched religious title disputes in India’s judiciary today.
#TempleMosqueDispute #MathuraTitleCase
