Eight pending suits on mosque-temple dispute in the country

File picture of Bhojshala complex

New Delhi – A case has been filed by Hindu party claiming that Shahi Jama Masjid at Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh was the old Harihar Temple. The Court ordered a survey of this mosque and since then, Muslims are resorting to violence in opposition. A thousand years ago, Muslim invaders destroyed hundreds of temples and built mosques over them, which also include the key Hindu temples at Kashi, Mathura and Ayodhya. ‘Shriram Janmabhoomi’ at Ayodhya has been retrieved by Hindus while cases of Kashi and Mathura are pending in the Courts. Hindus have now become aware of the fact and have started legal battles in case of some of the important temples. There are 16 such  disputes presently going on, out of which nine are new, while 8 are pending in the Courts. Some disputes have not yet been taken to the Court such as Jama Masjid at Delhi, Bija Mandal of Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, Char Minar and Vemulawada in Telangana.

The Places of Worship Act, 1991 is a big impediment in getting back these temples. There are six petitions filed in the Supreme Court for cancellation of this Act where hearing is going on. As per the clause 4(1) of this Act, the religious characteristics of the places of worship should be maintained as they existed on 15th August 1947 and whoever tries to violate this provision can be fined and sentenced to imprisonment of three years.

Status of some of the cases is given below –

1. Bhojshala ( Dhar, Madhya Pradesh) : There is a temple of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati) which has been taken over by Muslims claiming it to be Kamal Moula Mosque. Ninety-four idols, animal figures, and 31 coins were found during the survey conducted as per the order of Madhya Pradesh High Court. This case is pending in the Supreme Court.

2. Ajmer Sharif Dargah (Rajasthan) : Hindu Sena Chief Vishnu Gupta has filed a civil suit with the District Court, claiming that there was evidence of a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva at this site that was demolished to build dargah. The court will hold a hearing of this case.

3. Jama Masjid (Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh) : There was Kamakhya Temple here which was demolished to build the mosque. There is an idol of the Goddess under this mosque and a case is going on this issue.

4. Jama Masjid (Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh) : The mosque has been built by demolition of Shri Harihar Temple. Survey was conducted at the site and its report will be submitted to the Court. In the violence that erupted at the time of survey, five Muslims were killed.

5. Atala Masjid (Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh) : This mosque has been built by demolishing Atala Devi Temple. The matter is sub-judice. Survey has been demanded by the Hindu party.

6. Shamsi Jama Masjid (Budaun, Uttar Pradesh) : A suit was filed by the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha claiming that the mosque has been built by demolishing Neelkanth Mahadev Temple. The matter is sub-judice.

7. Juma Masjid (Mangaluru, Karnataka) : There was a temple at the site earlier. A suit has been filed with the District Court claiming that temple remnants would be found under the mosque if survey was conducted. Hearing is going on to first decide the maintainability of the suit.

8. Shahi Idgah Mosque, Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) : This mosque has been built on ‘Shrikrushna Janmabhoomi’ and hearing is underway.

9. Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, Qutub Minar Complex, Delhi : This mosque was built by demolishing 27 Jain and Hindu temples. The Court had rejected the suit in 2021 on the basis of the provisions of the Places of Worship Act, 1991.The decision has, however, been challenged and pending with the additional District Court.

Editorial Perspective

There have been hundreds of cases of Muslim invaders destroying temples and building mosques in their place in the country. Pujya Sitaram Goyal has published information on 1,800 such cases in a book. Hindus will have to set up an independent team for retrieving all these places.