NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an appeal against the Allahabad High Court order which rejected a PIL seeking recognition of Mathura’s Shahi Idgah Mosque site as Krishna Janmabhoomi and the removal of the mosque. The apex court also warned petitioner Adv Mahek Maheshwari not to file such petitions in future.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta refused to interfere with the High Court order and said the PIL is not maintainable as the several civil suits on the issues raised in it are already pending consideration.

“Let’s not have a multiplicity of litigation. You filed it as a PIL, which is why it was rejected (by the High Court). File it as otherwise, we will see. We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgment and hence SLP is dismissed. We clarify that the dismissal of the SLP nowhere comments on the right of parties to challenge the vires of any enactment or prevents or bars any party from challenging the vires of any enactment,” the apex court stated in the order.

The petitioner claimed that Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura is the birthplace of Lord Krishna. He approached the Allahabad High Court seeking the demolition of the mosque built on Krishna Janmabhoomi. However, the High Court dismissed the petition on 12 October 2023.