New Delhi: After 26 years of the Ram Janmabhoomi and Babri Masjid row, which is more known as the “Ayodhya Issue”, a historic judgement has come from the Apex Court on Thursday, September 27.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and including justices Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer began the proceedings this morning in which Justice Abdul Nazeer dissented from the majority opinion on the issue as he restricted his judgement based on the land allotment.
CJI Dipak Mishra and Justice Ashok Bhushan looked into the earlier judgements passed on the issue by the Supreme Court as well as the Allahabad High Court. The 1994 verdict was analysed based on Petitioner Dr. Ismail Faruqui petitions. According to the petitions, the verdict had touched upon the land acquisition and not the actual Ayodhya controversy.
The court made it very clear that it is not going to lend its ear to any political and religion based statements. The decision given will be purely on the land title and the actual issue. According to the live broadcasts from the courtroom, it is said that the case cannot be prolonged as the decisions on the Ayodhya row are getting delayed. The court has refused to transfer the proceedings to the five-bench judge.
The court has also mentioned that the case will be now dealt on the fast track. However, it has said that further proceedings on it will be initiated from October 29, 2018. This verdict comes as the final verdict before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Highlights of the verdict
1. No need to refer to the larger bench (five-bench)
2. Dr. Ismail Faruqui petitions based 1994 verdict of the Supreme Court is based on the land acquisition and not applicable to the Ayodhya case.
3. The three-bench judge will continue to receive petitions and continue with the proceedings from October 29.
4. Unless the place of worship has a historical significance, the place of worship should not affect the right to worship.
5. If the place is of significance, then its demolition will lead into violation of fundamental rights.
Reactions of various leaders
Some of the Maulana’s (name not mentioned) have expressed dissatisfaction on the verdict. Radical Islamic groups have said, “Will you demolish all the mosques around the nation? Where will we pray? You want to destroy the sanctum of Allah?”
President of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, Asaduddin Owaisi has said, “The petitions filed by Dr. Ismail Faruqui and the verdict by Justice Abdul Nazeer were on the right track. They have justified the case based on the land acquisition. But it is not clear as to why it was neglected.”
On the questions placed by the media on the fast track judgement, he said, “On October 2, CJI Dipak Misra will be retiring and Justice Ranjan Gogoi is said to take over. The pace of the case depends on the new CJI.”
Working President of the Vishwa Hindu Parishat (VHP) Alok Kumar has said, “I am satisfied that this hurdle has been removed. The way is now clear for the hearing of Ram Janmabhoomi appeals,”
Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhawan who is representing the Muslim litigants said, “Majority judgement will please the majority and minority judgement will please the minority. The case is not resolved yet. The verdict should not be on one religion but spoken in one voice.”
RSS in its initial reaction to the verdict has said that it welcomes the verdict and that the final verdict proceedings will gain momentum.
