Supreme Court The Supreme Court has referred some of India’s most sensitive religious disputes such as the Gyanvapi Masjid case in Varanasi, the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid case in Mathura and the Hari Mandir-Masjid dispute in Sambhal to the Lok Adalat to be held in the Supreme Court complex for out-of-court settlement. This reconciliation process named “Samdhaan Samaroh” will be conducted from 21 to 23 August. Its purpose is to find a solution through negotiations instead of a long legal battle. Under this process, the Supreme Court has issued notices to Hindu and Muslim parties related to these three cases.
Reconciliation efforts continue before Lok Adalat
The court has also started efforts for reconciliation before Lok Adalat. Mediation efforts have been going on in the lower courts since April 21. According to the schedule, a pre-conciliation hearing in the Gyanvapi case will be held in Varanasi on July 14 before the Lok Adalat proceedings. In the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah dispute in Mathura, previous attempts at mediation had reportedly failed on July 5, following which the Supreme Court included the matter in the special Lok Adalat initiative. Let us tell you that Samadhan Special Lok Adalat is to be organized on 21st, 22nd and 23rd August.
gyanvapi mosque case
The Gyanvapi controversy centers on claims by Hindu petitioners that the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi was built during the Mughal period by demolishing the original Kashi Vishwanath temple. Several petitions have been filed demanding the right to worship at certain places within the mosque premises and questioning the enforceability of the ‘Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991’. This Act preserves the religious nature of places of worship as it existed on 15 August 1947.
Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, representing the Muslim side, has opposed these claims. They say that the mosque is protected under the 1991 Act and these petitions are not legally sustainable. This dispute is currently pending in different courts, where issues like survey results, rights of worship and maintainability of the cases are being heard.
Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah dispute
This dispute is related to the Shahi Idgah Mosque of Mathura. It is alleged that it was built on the orders of the then Mughal ruler Aurangzeb by demolishing the temple built at the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The disputed site holds great religious significance for Hindus, as the Hindu petitioners claim that there are marks indicating that a temple once existed at the site.
Several lawsuits have sought the removal of the mosque or the recovery of the land that the Hindu petitioners claim originally housed the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple. Shahi Idgah Masjid Committee has opposed these claims. They argue that these suits are not maintainable and, among other grounds, have cited the ‘Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991’.
Sambhal Jama Masjid controversy
The Sambhal Jama Masjid controversy began when a civil court ordered a survey of the Mughal-era royal Jama Masjid. The order was given on a petition which claimed that there was originally a Harihar temple at that place. Due to the survey conducted on the orders of the court, violence broke out in Sambhal in November last year, in which many people died and many were injured.
Gyanvapi, Mathura and Sambhal disputes are still pending in the Supreme Court. The Court is examining the broader legal issues surrounding such lawsuits, including the application and interpretation of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
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