AGRA: Petitioners who first filed a plea seeking the "removal" of UP's Shahi Idgah mosque, which adjoins the Sri Krishna Janamasthan, on Thursday produced “documentary evidence” before the civil judge (senior division) Mathura, claiming that the property was "owned by a deity and couldn't be given to the Idgah trust on the basis of an (illegal) compromise”.
The judge admitted the plea and ordered the other party to file a reply on the next date of hearing, on July 1.
The suit, which was filed by 'Bhagwan Srikrishna Virajman' at Katra Keshav Dev Khewat, Mauja Mathura Bazaar City, through 'next friend' Ranjana Agnihotri and six other devotees, was earlier rejected on the grounds of “admissibility” in September 2020.
However, the decision was overturned by the district and sessions judge on May 19.
The court allowed the revision petition and restored the suit saying it was “maintainable” and that the petitioners had the "right to file it".
Advocate Mukesh Khandelwal, representing the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi trust, claimed that the entire 13.3-acre property was in the name of the trust, according to the revenue records. "Tax is also being paid by the trust as per the assessment register of the municipal corporation," he said, adding, “No other organisation or an individual has any claim on this property.”
Senior advocate Gopal Khandelwal, who is also fighting the case for the petitioner, said, “After producing documentary evidence related to the Krishna Janamsthan along with the order passed by the district court, the civil court found our petition legal and allowed us to register it.”
"The Sri Krishna Janambhoomi trust was only authorised to manage the property," he said to TOI. “They had no right to enter into a compromise with the Idgah as the sale deed was in the name of deity 'Thakur jee' (Lord Krishna),” he added. The petitioners have urged the court for an early decision on the matter.
“This is the first case filed by us to challenge the compromise, which was illegal. The case should be decided on the basis of merit,” senior advocate Khandelwal said, adding that they had "no connection with other pleas" filed in this regard.
