Ayodhya Title Case: SC to Decide Hearing Date in January 2019
The matter would be heard by an appropriate bench, which would decide the schedule of hearing, in January.
The Supreme Court on Monday, 29 October, adjourned the Ayodhya matter for January 2019 for fixing a schedule of hearing by an appropriate bench.
A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph was hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Allahabad High Court's 2010 verdict by which the disputed land on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid area in Ayodhya was divided into three parts.
- Babri Masjid was razed to the ground on 6 December 1992 by hundreds of Karsewaks
- A 3-judge bench of the Allahabad High Court began hearing the case in 2002
- In 2010, the high court announced the trifurcation of the land
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)
What Was The 27 September Supreme Court Verdict?
On 27 September, the apex court had declined to refer to a five-judge Constitution Bench the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgment that a mosque was not integral to Islam which had arisen during the hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute.
In a majority verdict of 2:1, a three-judge bench headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra had said the civil suit has to be decided on the basis of evidence and the previous verdict has no relevance to this issue.
Justice Ashok Bhushan, who had penned the judgment for himself and the Chief Justice of India, had said it has to find out the context in which the five-judge bench had delivered the 1994 verdict.
However, Justice S Abdul Nazeer had disagreed with the two judges and had said whether a mosque is integral to Islam has to be decided considering religious belief which requires detailed consideration.
The court had on 27 September said the civil suit on land dispute would be heard by a three-judge bench on 29 October.
The issue whether a mosque is integral to Islam had cropped up when the three-judge bench was hearing the appeals filed against the Allahabad High Court's verdict.
The three-judge high court bench, in a 2:1 majority ruling, had ordered that the 2.77 acres of land be partitioned equally among three parties – the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
Ram's Birthplace Can't be Changed: RSS Leader
Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing, RSS leader Indresh Kumar said, “Kaaba badla nahi ja sakta, Harmandir sahab badla nahi ja sakta, Vatican ko badla nahi ja sakta aur Ram jamansthaan ko badla nahi ja sakta, yeh ek satya hai. (Just like Mecca cannot be replaced and the Vatican City cannot be changed, the birthplace of Ram can also not be changed.)”
Hindus Are Losing Patience: Giriraj Singh
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Monday said Hindus are losing patience over the issue of Ram temple in Ayodhya.
“Ab Hinduon ka sabr tut raha hai. Mujhe bhay hai ki Hinduon ka sabr tuta toh kya hoga. (Hindus are on the verge of losing patience. I am afraid what shall happen if Hindus lose patience),” he said.
SC Adjourns Matter for January 2019 For Fixing a Date
The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned the Ayodhya matter for January 2019 for fixing a date.
Adjournment Doesn’t Send a Good Message: Keshav Prasad Maurya
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said adjournment of the hearing does not send out a good message.
“I don't want to comment since it's the decision of Supreme Court. However, the adjournment of hearing doesn't send a good message,” he said.
Will Raise the Issue in Parliament: Subramanian Swamy
BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, expressing discontent over the adjournment, said he will raise the issue in Parliament.
“I'll raise it in the Parliament session. We should bring in an ordinance proclaiming a law, which says that the 2.67 acres of land be given to Hindu organisation,” he said.
Law is Being Played With By SC: Mahant Dharam Das
Mahant Dharam Das, one of the priests at the forefront of the Ayodhya dispute, said that law is being played with by the Supreme court and the case should be heard daily.
BJP Polarises The Issue Every 5 Years: P Chidambaram
Former Union Minister P Chidambaram said that the BJP tries to polarise the issue of Ram temple every five years and that SC’s decision should be respected.
“This is a familiar story. Every five years before elections, BJP will try to polarise views on Ram Mandir. Congress party's position is that the matter is before SC,everyone should wait until SC decides. I don't think we should jump the gun,” he said.