Conduct ASI survey of Agra's Jahanara Mosque where idol of Lord Krishna is kept: Application filed before Mathura Court

An application has been filed before a Mathura Court seeking an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) study of the Shahi Eidgah in Mathura and Jahanara Mosque in Agra, in which it is claimed that an idol of Lord Krishna exists..The application has been moved by Advocate Shailender Singh, who contended that conducting such survey is important because Mughal ruler Aurangzeb had razed the Krishna Janmabhoomi and built a mosque at the site. Thus,"...examination is utmost required to be conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India, on both the places i.e. Shahi Eidgah and Jahanara’s Mosque, Agra, for establishing a proper relation among the same.".It is claimed that the Shahi Eidgah was constructed on the Sabha-mandapa (Assembly Hall) of the original temple and the Garbha Griha (Sanctum Sactorum) was left. It is considered as the place of the prison cell where Lord Krishna is believed to have born..The following prayers have been sought from the Court:To, direct the Director General of Archaeological Survey Of India to constitute a Committee and conduct a Ground Radiology of the Jahanara's mosque known now days as Jama Masjid, Agra where its said that the Idol is kept. To direct the Director General of Archaeological Survey Of India to perform archaeological exploration and excavation of idol/idols of Lord Shri Krishna..The applicant has placed reliance on the Supreme Court's Ayodhya judgment, in which it discussed the importance of scientific investigation in matters wherein there is lack of evidences.Para 490 of the judgment states,"Archaeology as a science draws on multi-disciplinary or trans-disciplinary approaches. In considering the nature of archaeological evidence, it is important to remember that archaeology as a branch of knowledge draws sustenance from the science of learning, the wisdom of experience and the vision which underlies the process of interpretation. As a discipline, it nurtures a trained mind. It relies on a cross-fertilization with other disciplines such as history, sociology and anthropology. This is not a weakness but a strength.".Reliance has also been placed on the recent order passed by a Varanasi Court, which had directed for an ASI survey of Gyanvapi Mosque, in the Kashi land dispute case..The application seeking ASI survey of the said Masjid is expected to be taken up in the first week of May..Last year, a petition was filed before the Allahabad High Court seeking a direction from the Court to handover Mathura's Shahi Masjid, which stands adjacent to the Sri Krishna Temple, to Hindus.The plea also challenged the validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which bars courts from entertaining cases filed over the character of such places of worship..On a similar note, a Mathura civil court last year dismissed a suit moved to remove the Shahi Idgah Masjid in Mathura on the ground that it was built over Krishna Janmabhoomi land.Later, the same was challenged before the District Judge in Mathura. Accordingly, Judge Sadhna Rani Thakur issued notice to the Shahi Idgah Masjid trust , UP Sunni Central Waqf Board and others..Mathura District Court admits appeal in Krishna Janmabhoomi case; notice issued to UP Sunni Central Waqf Board, Masjid Idgah Trust