The ongoing legal battle over the Shahi Idgah Mosque adjoining the Krishna Janmabhoomi Temple in Mathura has seen another chapter unfold as the Supreme Court extended its stay on the Allahabad High Court's order from December 14, 2023. The High Court had directed a survey of the mosque premises, a decision now pending further deliberation scheduled for August 2024.

A bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta reiterated that while interim orders would continue, they had not halted the suit proceedings before the High Court. Parties involved were instructed to submit pleadings and written submissions, underscoring the judicial scrutiny this contentious issue demands.

Senior advocate Shyam Divan, representing the Hindu side, invoked Order 7, Rule 11 of the Civil Procedure Code, emphasizing legal procedures in play. This application, set for a hearing, underscores the meticulous legal strategies employed by both sides.

This legal saga began with the High Court's decision to hear 18 suits related to the land dispute, consolidating jurisdiction from various civil courts in Mathura. The court's subsequent order for a court-monitored survey of the Shahi Idgah complex added fuel to an already intense legal debate.

At the heart of this dispute lies the historical and religious significance of the land. The petitioners, representing the deity Bhagwan Shree Krishna Virajman, assert that the mosque was built by Aurangzeb after demolishing part of Lord Krishna’s birthplace. 

Their claim extends to ownership of the entire 13.37-acre premises, challenging a 1968 agreement between the Shahi Idgah Mosque Committee and the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust.