Ayodhya Case: Daily Hearings In Supreme Court End, Verdict Reserved
NEW DELHI:
The daily hearings in the decades old temple-mosque dispute in Ayodhya came to an end at the Supreme Court this afternoon after 40 days . The verdict in the case - which has dominated politics and the headlines for decades - is expected to come before November 17, when Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who is leading the five-judge constitution bench hearing the case, is slated to retire.
The judges had been sticking to a strict timeline after attempts to sort out the case through mediation failed. Over the last weeks, they have extended the timing of the hearings and rebuked the advocates for spinning it out.
This morning, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, declaring “Enough is enough” after a lawyer asked the top court for more time for arguments, said they would finish the hearing by 5 pm. Justice Gogoi had earlier expressed concern that in the current schedule, there would hardly be time to write the judgment.
The court has asked the petitioners to submit within three days what relief they want in the judgment.
On the last day of hearing, there were dramatic moments as the lawyer representing the Muslim petitioners, tore up a map and relentless interruptions infuriated the judges.
Rajeev Dhavan, representing Muslim petitioners including the Sunni Waqf Board in the title suit, tore up a pictorial map showing the Ram Janmasthan after asking the court’s permission. The map, he had contended, could not be submitted as evidence since the court had earlier refused to accept it.
Following the commotion it caused and interruptions from both sides, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi threatened to walk out.
The five-judge Constitution began day-to-day proceedings on August 6 after mediation proceedings failed to find an amicable solution to the dispute. On Monday, the Supreme Court resumed daily hearings after a week-long Dussehra break.
It heard from Muslim respondents who said there was no claim for the title of the land in Ayodhya by Hindus until 1989. They asked for the restoration of the Babri Masjid as it stood before it was demolished in December 1992.
Fourteen appeals have been filed in the top court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77-acre land in Ayodhya be partitioned equally among the three parties - the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
Many Hindus believe the land was the birthplace of Lord Ram and a mosque was built there on the ruins of an ancient temple. The 16th century Babri mosque at the spot was razed in December 1992 by right-wing activists. The destruction of the mosque sparked riots in the country.
Several mediation attempts have failed to produce a solution to the decades-old dispute.
