A Budaun court will decide on January 18, 2025, whether to hear a plea that claims the existence of a Neelkanth temple at the site of the Jama Masjid Shamsi mosque. The case, which began in 2022, arose when Mukesh Patel, then convener of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, claimed that a temple existed at the site and sought permission to worship there. Lawyers from both sides presented their arguments on December 17, but the court did not pass a decision and postponed it to January 18 due to the ongoing district bar association elections.

The Supreme Court had issued a restraint order on December 12, preventing any courts from entertaining or passing orders regarding religious place lawsuits, including surveys under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. This ruling affects cases like the one in Budaun.

The Jama Masjid Shamsi, located in Sotha Mohalla, Budaun, is one of the largest and oldest mosques in the country, with the capacity to accommodate 23,500 people. The outcome of the court hearing on January 18 will determine whether the matter will proceed.