Gyanvapi, Mathura and Sambhal litigants decline Supreme Court's mediation offer

Parties involved in three significant temple-mosque disputes across Uttar Pradesh have declined an offer from the Supreme Court of India to participate in a mediated resolution process. This includes the highly contentious Gyanvapi mosque dispute in Varanasi, the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Eidgah land dispute in Mathura, and the Jama Masjid dispute in Sambhal.

Instead of engaging with the Supreme Court's "Samadhan Samaroh 2026" initiative, which aims to facilitate amicable settlements through mediation and culminates in a special Lok Adalat, the Hindu and Muslim litigants have opted to have their cases adjudicated based on their legal merits. They believe that disputes involving complex questions of title, constitutional rights, and significant public importance are best resolved by courts.

Sources close to the litigations indicated that lawyers and litigants from both sides feel that matters of such magnitude and public importance are not suitable for resolution through a Lok Adalat or mediated settlement. Representatives from the mosque management committees echoed this sentiment, stating their support for peaceful dispute resolution but their unwillingness to submit these specific litigations to mediation.

The Supreme Court administration had extended the invitation to explore consensual dispute resolution, but the responses from the parties involved effectively rule out the possibility of these high-profile disputes being addressed during the upcoming special Lok Adalat scheduled from August 21 to 23. The "Samadhan Samaroh 2026" program, launched in April, encourages voluntary settlement of pending cases through mediation.

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The matters involve issues of title, constitutional rights and questions of wider public importance. These are not disputes that can appropriately be resolved through a Lok Adalat.