The court of the Additional District Judge in Lucknow has dismissed a revision plea challenging a lower court order that rejected objections to a civil suit seeking the right of worship at Laxman Teela, the site of Teele Wali Masjid. The civil suit, filed by the Hindu side, asserts the presence of the Shesh Nagesh Teeleshwar Mahadev temple in close proximity to Teele Wali Masjid.
In a recent order, Additional District Judge Narendra Kumar stated that the civil suit cannot be summarily dismissed without recording evidence, emphasizing that objections from the Muslim side alone are insufficient grounds for dismissal. The judge noted that there was no illegality in the Civil Judge’s order from September 6, 2023, allowing the suit to proceed based on its merit.
The order sets the stage for the disposal of the civil suit on its merits to determine whether the plaintiffs have an uninterrupted right to worship at Laxman Teela. The plaintiff, Nripendra Pandey, and others filed the suit, claiming that during the rule of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, Laxman Teela was damaged, and a mosque, Teele Wali Masjid, was constructed at the site.
According to the plaintiffs, the temple of Shesh Nagesh Teeleshwar Mahadev and Shesh Nagesh Patal Koop still exists at the location. The plaintiffs alleged that in June 2023, they were threatened by the Muslim side when attempting to perform puja at the site. Consequently, they filed the civil suit, seeking an injunction against the Muslim side to prevent interference with their worship.
Previously, the Muslim side had filed an objection before the civil judge, arguing that the suit was not maintainable due to being time-barred under the Place of Worship Act 1991 and the provisions of the Waqf Act 1995. The civil judge rejected the Muslim side’s objection, leading to the filing of the revision before the Additional District Judge.
The dismissal of the revision now allows the civil suit to proceed on its merits, addressing the substantive issues raised by both parties. The legal developments in the Laxman Teela case underscore the complex nature of disputes involving places of worship and competing claims from different religious communities.
The court’s decision ensures that the matter will be thoroughly examined based on evidence presented during the proceedings, offering an opportunity for a fair and comprehensive resolution. As the civil suit advances, further updates will be awaited to provide a comprehensive understanding of the legal proceedings and their implications for the contested site in Lucknow.
