NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court said on Friday that it did not want to challenge the Allahabad High Court‘s decision to combine 15 lawsuits about Mathua’s Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah dispute.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and justice Sanjay Kumar indicated that combining the cases could benefit all parties by avoiding multiple proceedings.
The Allahabad High Court had issued the directive on January 11 last year, consolidating suits filed by Hindu petitioners to streamline the legal process.
The mosque committee, represented by legal counsel, argued that the cases varied in nature and combining them could cause complications. However, the bench dismissed the concerns, emphasising that consolidation would not negatively impact the proceedings.
“No complications at all. It is in your benefit and their benefit also as multiple proceedings are being avoided,” the bench said. Adding further, it asked, “Why should we interfere on the issue of consolidation (of lawsuits)? In any case, we are hearing the issue.”
“What difference does it make if it is consolidated? Anyway, think about it, we are adjourning it, but I think consolidation makes no difference at all. Relist (the plea) in the week commencing April 1,” the CJI said.
“If required, you can raise the plea later,” CJI Khanna told the committee’s counsel. The matter has been scheduled to be re-listed in April.
In a related decision on December 12, the Supreme Court restrained courts from entertaining new lawsuits or issuing orders on pending ones seeking to reclaim religious places, particularly mosques and dargahs, signalling a broader effort to maintain judicial stability on religious disputes.
