In the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Idgah dispute case of Mathura, the party claims that the mosque was built by demolishing the temple of Keshav Dev. The parties have made this claim on the basis of the records given in response to RTI by ASI, Archeology Department Office, Agra. According to the records, in the Gazette published from Allahabad in 1920 during the British rule, there is a list of 39 monuments in different districts of UP, in which Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi at Katra Keshav Dev Bhoomi is mentioned at number 37. Ajay Pratap Singh of Mainpuri had sought this information about the temple under the Right to Information Act. Letter number ALSOI/R/E 23/00003 was filed. In this Public Information Right, information was sought that the part of Katra Keshav Dev which is not in the possession of Nazul tenants and on which the temple of Keshav Dev earlier stood, was demolished and the land was used to make way for a mosque. Complete information about this monument should be made available. The record was released on 3 February 2023 in response to the information sought by the RTI activist.
This information is given in the record
In the letter issued, a copy of the gazette issued by the British rule in 1920 was given. Under the British rule, the Building and Road Section of the Public Works Department provided a list of 39 monuments in different districts of Uttar Pradesh as recorded in the Gazette published from Allahabad in 1920. In this list, Shri Krishna’s birthplace at Katra Keshav Dev Bhoomi is mentioned at number 37. In the letter given in reply, it is written that earlier there was a temple of Keshav Dev at Katra, which was demolished and that place was used for a mosque. Chairman of Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Nyas, Mahendra Pratap Singh, who found this letter found in response to RTI, said that earlier also facts and evidence were testifying about the temple, now this letter will prove to be more important. This letter will be presented in the court during the hearing to be held in the High Court on 22 February. Along with this, we will file a reply to the stay imposed by the Supreme Court.