After a legal dispute spanning 53 years, the Additional District Judge (ADJ) Court in Baghpat resolved the matter on Monday, 5th February, by awarding ownership rights of more than 100 bighas of land associated with the Lakshagriha from the Mahabharata era to the Hindu party. Civil Judge Shivam Dwivedi dismissed the claim of the Muslim party, which argued the existence of Badruddin's tomb and a graveyard on the site as grounds for challenging the site's nature and asserting ownership.

The Lakshagriha, a structure dating back to the Mahabharata era located in Barnawa, Baghpat, has been at the centre of a prolonged conflict between Hindu and Muslim groups. Originating from a case filed in Meerut court in 1970, the extended legal dispute reached its resolution with the recent verdict from the Baghpat District and Sessions Court favouring the Hindu claimants. The Hindu party asserted that the contested land is the Lakshagriha from the Mahabharata era, where the Kauravas attempted to murder the Pandavas through fire. In contrast, the Muslim faction argued that the site is the burial ground of the Sufi saint Sheikh Badruddin. The said parcel of land falls in spans over 108 bighas. Additionally, a tunnel is also present here which is said to be from the Pandava period. It is claimed that the Pandavas escaped from Lakshagriha through this tunnel. 

Throughout the court proceedings, over 10 witnesses from the Hindu perspective provided testimony, and the court also sought the opinions of historians. Historian Amit Rai stated that during the excavation of the land, evidence spanning thousands of years was discovered. He emphasized that all the discovered evidence is connected to Hindu civilization.

Earlier, the Lakshagriha mound had been identified in Barnawa of Baghpat. In 1953, during excavation efforts, artefacts of archaeological significance dating back approximately 4500 years were unearthed at this location. Presently, the site recognized as the Lakshagriha, constructed by Duryodhana, is under the ownership of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

It is said that this mound is the same Lakshagriha, where an attempt was made to burn the Pandavas. Kauravas had built this Lakshagriha and set it on fire to kill the Pandavas, but the Pandavas came out of a tunnel. This tunnel still exists in Barnawa. Here, the mound has been excavated by ASI Delhi in 2018 by digging a trench, in which pottery and evidence of the Rajput period has also been found.

The first civil suit related to the contentious land was filed in 1972 by Mukhim Khan, an official of the Waqf board. He rejected the assertions of Krishnadutt Maharaj regarding the land mound, contending that it contained the tomb of the saint Sheikh Badruudin. Additionally, he asserted that the area surrounding the shrine constituted a Muslim graveyard and was registered as Waqf property under the Sunni Waqf Board.

Representing the Hindu side, Krishnadutt Maharaj had submitted that the mound of land in Barnawa village is the Mahabharat-era Lakshagriha and Gandhi Dham Ashram owns the adjoining land. He had cited an underground tunnel near the site to back his claims.

Both Krishnadutt Maharaj, who presented evidence on behalf of the Hindu side, and Muqeem Khan, who filed the case on behalf of the Muslim side, had passed away and others have been advocating in this case. 

Image source: TV9 Hindi