Clubbing all suits in Krishna Janmabhoomi - Shahi Idgah case benefits both sides: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Friday took a prima facie favourable view of the decision of the Allahabad High Court to consolidate/ club all suits relating to Krishna Janmabhoomi - Shahi Idgah dispute and hear it together [Committee of Management Trust Shahi Idgah vs Bhagwan Shrikrishna Virajman Next Friend and ors]..A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar said that clubbing all suits/ applications related to the case and hearing the same together will benefit both the Hindu and Muslim sides since it will avoid multiple proceedings."Why should we intervene in the issue of consolidation of suits," the Court asked. "Suits not similar in nature are consolidated. Now it says any plea made will be taken up together. It will lead to complications," the counsel appearing for the Committee of Management Trust Shahi Idgah said. "No complications at all. It is in your benefit and their benefit also that multiple proceedings are avoided," the Court said.It then proceeded to adjourn the matter and listed it for hearing in April."We can adjourn this also. Everything needs not be agitated. What difference will it make if it's consolidated? Now the written submissions are also taken on record. But anyways consolidation makes no difference at all. We will adjourn this. I do not know why everything needs to be contested. Re-list in first week of April 2025," the Court said while adjourning the case..The Supreme Court was hearing the Muslim side's challenge against the Allahabad High Court order that allowed the plea moved by Hindu side seeking consolidation of the suits..The case arose after the Hindu side filed a suit before the civil court claiming that the Shahi Idgah Masjid (mosque) was built over Krishna Janmabhoomi land.The civil suit was filed on behalf of a Hindu deity Bhagwan Shri Krishna Virajman and certain Hindu devotees. The plaintiffs sought the removal of the mosque from its current site.The plaintiffs further claimed that there were various indications to support the view that the Shahi-Idgah Mosque is, in fact, a Hindu temple. Therefore, an application was made before the High Court to appoint a commissioner to examine the site.The main suit had initially been dismissed by a civil court in September 2020, citing the bar on admitting the case under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. However, this decision was overturned after an appeal before the Mathura District Court.The Mathura District Court in May 2022 held that the suit was maintainable and overturned the civil court order dismissing the suit. The matter was transferred to the High Court in 2023..The Supreme Court is also seized of an appeal against a recent verdict of the Allahabad High Court that deemed 18 suits relating to the Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah Masjid dispute maintainable.On December 14, 2023, the High Court had allowed an application filed on behalf of a Hindu deity, Bhagwan Shri Krishna Virajman and seven other Hindu parties seeking the appointment of a court commissioner to inspect the Shahi-Idgah mosque.The Supreme Court had declined to stay that order.