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Budaun (Uttar Pradesh), September 16 (KMS): A court in Budaun city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh has fixed October 4 as the next date for hearing a plea filed by a Hindutva organization seeking permission to offer prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid Shamsi.
The Hindu Mahasabha has claimed that the mosque was build after the demolition of the Neelkanth Mahadev temple and sought permission for Hindus to offer prayers there.
The court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Vijay Kumar Gupta heard the plea, Indian media reported.
Asrar Ahmed, the lawyer for the Muslim side, said he has sought a copy of the plea in the court. He said notices have not been served on all parties till now. The trial of the case cannot commence till all parties are summoned, he added.
Earlier, the court had directed the Intezamia Committee managing the mosque to present its side on September 15.
The mosque is built on an elevated area called Sotha Mohalla and is considered the highest structure in Budaun. It is also believed to be the third oldest existing and seventh largest mosque in India, having a capacity for 23,500 people.
Hindutva members from different rightwing organizations have filed several similar suits, including in Mathura and Varanasi, claiming that mosques there were sites of ancient Hindu temples.
