SC on Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah Dispute: Suit Consolidation Should Favor Both Sides

The Supreme Court on Friday remarked that the decision of the Allahabad High Court to consolidate all suits pertaining to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah dispute of Mathura should benefit both sides.

“Why should we intervene in the issue of consolidation of suits? It doesn't make a difference. It is to the benefit of both sides, so multiple proceedings are avoided, remarked a bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar as it heard a plea filed by the management committee of the Shahi Masjid Eidgah against an order passed by the Allahabad High Court in January last year "in the interest of justice" directing that all 15 suits filed by the Hindu side be consolidated.

During the course of the hearing, it was submitted before the counsel appearing on behalf of the mosque management committee that suits not similar in nature were also consolidated and the impugned decision will bring complications in the proceedings of the trial.

Expressing its prima facie disapproval with the submission, the CJI Khanna-led Bench adjourned the proceedings and posted the matter for hearing in April 2025.

Earlier, the mosque management committee had moved an appeal to the Supreme Court against another order passed by the Allahabad High Court transferring to itself a clutch of petitions seeking various reliefs with respect to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah dispute.

At the time, it had made that remark and commented: "Difficult to accept your contention that all parties are not able to afford travel expenses up to the Allahabad High Court."
"Not acceptable to us that you can come to Delhi but could not go to Allahabad", the Supreme Court had said then.

Initially, multiple suits had been filed in various courts of Mathura, all on a common, albeit different legal claims, that the Eidgah complex had been constructed over the place believed to be the birthplace of Lord Krishna and where a temple had existed.