Krishna Janmabhoomi–Shahi Eidgah Dispute: Allahabad High Court Fixes April 10, 2026 for Next Hearing in Mathura Title Case
By Rajesh Pandey
The long-running Krishna Janmabhoomi–Shahi Eidgah mosque title dispute in Mathura is set to come up for further hearing before the Allahabad High Court on April 10, 2026.
The matter was heard on March 28 by Justice Avnish Saxena, who directed that all pending applications in the case will be decided sequentially.
During the hearing, the court observed that the applications filed by the parties would be taken up one after the other, subject to their proper disposal.
The judge also granted liberty to the contesting parties to submit their objections before the court registry on or before the next date of hearing.
The dispute revolves around a series of 18 civil suits filed by the Hindu side, seeking possession of land allegedly forming part of the Krishna Janmabhoomi complex.
The petitioners have demanded the removal of the structure of the Shahi Eidgah mosque, the restoration of the temple believed to mark the birthplace of Lord Krishna, and a permanent injunction to protect the claimed religious site.
Earlier, on August 1, 2024, the Allahabad High Court had dismissed objections raised by the Muslim side questioning the maintainability of the suits filed by Hindu worshippers.
In its order, the court ruled that the suits are legally maintainable and are not barred under provisions of the Limitation Act, the Waqf Act, or the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
The 1991 Act generally prohibits the conversion of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, but the court held that the pleas raised in these suits require adjudication on the merits.
The dispute is historically linked to the Shahi Eidgah mosque, believed to have been constructed during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
Petitioners from the Hindu side claim that the mosque was built after demolishing a temple at what they assert is the birthplace of Lord Krishna in Mathura.
The claim is contested by the Muslim side, which maintains that the mosque stands on legally valid land and that the suits lack merit.
The case has drawn significant public attention due to its historical, religious, and legal implications.
The April 10 hearing is expected to address procedural issues related to the various applications pending before the court and may determine the course of future proceedings in the high-profile title dispute.
