Mediation Push Fails in Gyanvapi, Krishna Janmabhoomi and Sambhal Disputes

Efforts to secure an out-of-court settlement in three of Uttar Pradesh's most closely watched religious site disputes Gyanvapi , Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah , and Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid-Hari Har Temple have failed to gain momentum, with parties on both sides insisting that the matters should be resolved through the judicial process rather than mediation.

The initiative comes under SAMADHAN SAMAROH (Supreme Court Action for Mediated Adjudication and Disputes Harmonisation Across Nation), a programme launched by the Supreme Court of India to encourage amicable settlements of pending cases ahead of a Special Lok Adalat scheduled for August 21-23.

In the Gyanvapi dispute in Varanasi, the Hindu side said it had been asked to appear before a mediation centre on July 14 but maintained that the case should be decided on legal grounds. Representatives argued that the issue involved questions of ownership and religious rights that required a judicial verdict. The Muslim side also expressed reservations, noting that similar disputes were pending elsewhere in the country and questioning whether mediation could produce a meaningful resolution.

A similar stance emerged in the Sambhal Shahi Jama Masjid-Hari Har Temple case . Counsel for the mosque committee said the dispute involved deeply held religious beliefs and competing claims over the site's historical character, making it unsuitable for compromise. The Muslim side argued that determining whether the structure is a temple or a mosque should be left to the courts. The Hindu side said it was unaware of any formal mediation proposal.

In the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah dispute in Mathura, mediation proceedings before the District Legal Services Authority reportedly ended without progress after representatives of the Muslim side did not attend meetings. According to the Hindu side, the Muslim parties preferred adjudication through regular court proceedings. The Allahabad High Court is scheduled to hear the matter on July 17.