Mathura Shahi Idgah Mediation Ends Without Progress After Muslim Side Skips Lok Adalat Hearing
Efforts to explore a negotiated settlement failed as representatives of the mosque committee did not attend the court supervised mediation.
A court supervised mediation aimed at resolving the long running dispute between the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi and the Shahi Idgah mosque ended without any breakthrough on Saturday after representatives from the Muslim side did not appear for the hearing.
The mediation was held during a special Lok Adalat in Mathura following directions from the Supreme Court. The proceedings were led by Additional District and Sessions Judge Surendra Prasad in the presence of officials from the District Legal Services Authority. The session was conducted ahead of a larger special Lok Adalat scheduled for August.
The mediation process was initiated after seven petitioners approached the court seeking an amicable settlement through discussions between both parties. Representatives and legal counsel from the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi side attended the hearing and submitted their arguments and related documents.
The court waited for the representatives or lawyers of the Shahi Idgah mosque committee to participate. However, no one appeared on their behalf. As a result, the mediation could not move forward and was officially recorded as unsuccessful.
Advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh, appearing for the Hindu side, said that several Special Leave Petitions connected to the dispute had been referred by the Supreme Court to the Mathura court for mediation. He said that if both sides are willing to hold discussions and reach a mutual agreement, the court would take that settlement into consideration.
He also said that some Hindu petitioners have proposed providing land for a mosque outside the Braj region as part of a possible settlement. According to him, no response has been received from the mosque committee regarding the proposal.
The legal dispute remains active with around 18 related petitions pending before different courts. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter between August 21 and August 23.