Declining an urgent hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute case, the Supreme Court on Monday, 29 October, said an “appropriate bench” will decide in January when to hear the politically-sensitive case. This sparked demands by Hindu groups for a law to begin construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site.
"We have our own priorities. Whether the matter will be heard in January, February or March, the appropriate bench will decide," the court said after a brief hearing.
The decision by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi came after the Hindu groups were looking forward to a day-to-day hearing to start on 29 October.
Immediately after, there was a chorus of demands from within the BJP and various Sangh Parivar outfits that the Centre bring an Ordinance or legislation in the Winter session of Parliament for early construction of Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls without waiting for the apex court verdict.
RSS Calls For Early Decision
The RSS said the Supreme Court should take an early decision on the issue, and that the government should bring a law soon.
"The Supreme Court should take an early decision and if there is any difficulty, the government should make a law to remove hurdles in the construction of the Ram temple to grant land at the Ram Janmabhoomi site," said RSS spokesperson Arun Kumar.
“The Sangh believes that a Ram Temple should be constructed early at the birthplace of (Lord Ram) and should get land for temple construction at the birthplace. With the construction of the temple, an atmosphere of unity and harmony will be created,” RSS chief spokesperson Arun Kumar said in a statement.
VHP Echos Ordinance Call
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said Hindus “cannot wait eternally” for a court judgment on the Ayodhya land dispute case, and asked the government to bring a law for building a Ram temple.
Outlining the government's stand, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, at the same time, said a lot people in the country want the case to be heard quickly.
Union minister and senior BJP leader Giriraj Singh said Hindus are "running out of patience" on the Ram temple issue, while his party colleague Vinay Katiyar alleged that the issue was being delayed "under pressure" from the Congress, which then denied the charge.
Shiv Sena Demands Govt Come Out With Ordinance
The BJP's estranged ally, Shiv Sena also stressed that the Ram temple is an issue of faith and demanded that the government come out with an Ordinance soon.
Opposing any ordinance, All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaddudin Owaisi dared the government to take this route, saying the BJP refers to the Ram Temple again and again.
"If they have the courage, they should bring an Ordinance on Ram Temple construction. They are trying to scare us about bringing an Ordinance, why don't they bring it?" he said.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for the Uttar Pradesh government and deity Ramlala respectively, sought early listing of the appeals in the case after referring to their long pendency.
As many as 14 appeals have been filed against the high court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77 acre land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
Amid the clamour for an ordinance or alternatively bringing in a legislation in the Winter session of Parliament, the Congress called for restraint and awaiting the Supreme Court verdict without linking the issue to "votebank politics". The winter session is likely begin in the first half of December.
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