On Wednesday, 28th February, the District Court in Lucknow said "no" to Imam Mutawalli's plea (also known as Maulana Kari Sayyed Shah Fazlul Mannan) from Teele Wali Masjid. He was challenging a decision made back in September 2023 by a Civil judge who said the suit filed by the Hindu folks for the disputed spot was valid. This spot, mind you, saw a Hindu temple dedicated to Bhagwan Shiv and Bhagwan Sheshnag being replaced by a structure during Aurangzeb’s reign.
Now, Additional District Judge Narendra Kumar had a look at this and found nothing fishy about the Civil Judge's decision. Back in 2023, this Civil Judge threw out the Muslim side’s plea saying their case wasn’t solid enough. They were questioning the Hindu side's case, led by Nripendra Pandey and others, claiming it was all just fiction without any evidence. They argued that the Civil Judge didn’t think twice before making their decision.
But Judge Kumar had his say. He checked all the papers, looked at the arguments, and said, "Hold on a minute!" This case, he reckoned, wasn't your run-of-the-mill injunction case. It's got layers, a mix of law and fact. So, instead of rushing things, he decided both parties should get a proper hearing with evidence and all that jazz. He thought the Civil Judge did just fine, so no need to meddle with it.
In 2023, eight devotees of Bhagwan Sheshnagesht Teeleshwar Mahadev Virajman and ‘Laxman Teëla Sheshnag Tirath Bhoomi Asthan’ stepped up, wanting protection for their rituals at Sheshavtar Mandir, Sheshnag Patal Koop, and Sheshnagesht Teeleshwar Mahadev Mandir within Laxman Teela (where Teele Wali Mosque stands).
Their argument? That mosque was built by knocking down a Hindu temple during Aurangzeb's rule. They said it was a pattern: destroy Hindu temples, build mosques. OpIndia got a peek at the judgment and found the Hindus claiming their place of worship was altered unlawfully. Despite their efforts, the Muslim side was giving them grief, not letting them practice their faith.
The Muslim side countered, saying it's all Waqf Board's turf. They waved the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, and the Waqf Act, 1995, saying you can't just switch up the religious flavor of a place by plonking idols and praying differently.
Judge Kumar agreed: this needed a full-blown trial, not just quick fixes. So, he waved away the Muslim side's plea and gave thumbs up to the lower court's decisions in the Teele Wali Masjid case.
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