Muslim side stays out of talks; Supreme Court hearing scheduled for August 21-23
MATHURA — A mediation hearing concerning the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi and Shahi Idgah mosque dispute, held in a special Lok Adalat under the direction of the Supreme Court, ended without progress after the Muslim side failed to appear.
The proceedings were scheduled following petitions by seven applicants who requested that both parties be brought together for an attempt at settlement in a lower court setting. The matter has already reached the Supreme Court, where multiple petitions remain pending.
The meeting was chaired by Additional District and Sessions Judge Surendra Prasad, with officials from the District Legal Services Authority also present. The discussions were organised ahead of a scheduled special Lok Adalat set for August.
During Saturday’s hearing, representatives and advocates of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi side, along with seven petitioners, appeared before the court. The proceedings lasted for about one hour, during which submissions and documents related to the case were presented.
However, no representative or legal counsel appeared on behalf of the Shahi Idgah mosque committee. The court waited for their response, but none was submitted during the session.
Due to the absence of one party, the process could not proceed and was recorded as unsuccessful.
Advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh, representing the Hindu side, said that several Special Leave Petitions related to the matter had been filed before the Supreme Court and later referred to the Mathura court for attempted mediation.
He said, “If both parties sit together and reach an understanding, the court will consider it accordingly. Today, reconciliation talks were held. The Hindu side was present in court, but the Shahi Idgah mosque side did not appear.”
He also noted that a proposal had been placed by some Hindu petitioners suggesting that if needed, land for a mosque could be arranged outside the Braj region as part of a possible settlement framework. However, he added that no agreement has been reached and no response has been received from the other side.
At present, around 18 petitions connected to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi and Shahi Idgah dispute are under consideration in various courts.
The matter is now scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court on August 21-23
