The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea against an Allahabad High Court order dismissing a PIL for the recognition of historic Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura as Krishna Janmabhoomi and the removal of the mosque.
However, the top court clarified that the dismissal of PIL would not bar any party from challenging the vires of any enactment.
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said that it would not be right for the Court to interfere given the disputed questions of fact.
“Would not be right for us to interfere. Sorry. Not a matter for PIL (before HC). Disputed questions of fact,” the top court said.
The Allahabad High Court had in October 2023 rejected the PIL petition seeking the recognition of Mathura’s Shahi Idgah Mosque site as Krishna Janmabhoomi. The PIL had also called for the removal of the mosque from the disputed land.
Since the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 and the Supreme Court’s decision to construct Ram Mandir on the land where once the Masjid stood, Hindutva groups have been claiming sites, where mosques are standing, as Hindu sacred sites. Various Hindutva forces have constantly invoked the slogan “Ayodhya Toh Sirf Jhanki Hai, Kashi Mathura Baki Hai” which translates to – “Ayodhya is a mere trailer, Kashi and Mathura are still left”, referring to the Gyanvapi Mosque in Benaras and the Shahi Idgah Mosque in Mathura.
