The Waqf Atala Mosque in Jaunpur has approached the Allahabad High Court, challenging a local court’s order to register a suit that claims the mosque was originally the Atala Devi Temple. The suit was filed by the Swaraj Vahini Association (SVA) and a petitioner, Santosh Kumar Mishra, seeking to reclaim the mosque as a Hindu temple.
The petitioners claim the mosque, built in 1398, was constructed on the ruins of a temple dedicated to Atala Devi, allegedly built by Raja Vijay Chandra in the 13th century.
“This is not just about reclaiming a temple; it is about preserving our heritage and traditions,” Mishra said.
The Waqf Atala Mosque, however, firmly denies these claims, stating that the mosque has been used by the Muslim community for prayers since its construction. “This mosque has always been a place of worship for Muslims. The claims made by the plaintiffs are completely baseless,” said advocate Azim Ahmad Kazmi, representing the mosque.
The mosque trust argues that the SVA, a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, is not authorized to file such a suit.
“The plaintiffs have no legal right to challenge this property, which has been a registered mosque for centuries,” said advocate Rizwan Jamal Alvi.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com. Read the full story here.
