Similar to the case of Gyanvapi Masjid in Uttar Pradesh, a civil court in Mangalore has dismissed the plea filed by the managing committee of Jama Masjid in Malalipete challenging the maintainability of a suit filed by the Hindu organisations.
The Third Additional Civil Judge on Wednesday dismissed the interim application filed by the Managing Committee of the Juma Masjid at Malalipete, also known as a Malali Masjid against the suit filed by the Hindu organisations seeking survey of the mosque area. The saffron organisations, in their suit, claimed that during a make-over of the mosque, a structure resembling a temple was discovered at the site.
However, challenging the maintainability of the suit the managing committee of the Malali mosque contended that the case should be heard by the Wakf Tribunal and according to Wakf Act as the mosque is a Wakf property. However, the court has rejected the interim application filed by the advocates representing the managing committee of the Malali mosque.
It is found that the observations made by the Mangalore based court in the Malalipete Masjid case appeared similar to the one delivered by the judges in Varanasi court while hearing the Gyanvapi masjid.
The Varanasi court set aside the plea of the Managing Committee of the Gyanvapi mosque who challenged the maintainability of the suit filed by the petitioners seeking permission to perform puja in the disputed site.
However, the dispute in Malalipete reminisces the Babri masjid issue. Members of frenge hindu groups like Vishva Hindu Parishad also known as VHP and others created a brouhaha after a structure resembling a temple reportedly discovered inside the mosque area during renovation works.
Seizing the opportunity here too, the Hindu organisations – spurred up by the support of the BJP government in the state, knocked on the door of the court and urged it to conduct a Survey by the court appointed commissioner. Representing the hindu organisations, advocates such as Dhananjai and B.A. Manoj Kumar has filed the suit in the third Additional Civil Court seeking direction for survey of the mosque area.
