Ayodhya Land Dispute Case: SC to Hear the Matter on 2 August

Chairperson of the 3-member mediation committee, Justice Kalifulla submitted the status report in the Supreme Court.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday, 18 July, said it will hear the Ayodhya Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case next on 2 August, and sought the outcome report of the mediation panel by 1 August.

Chairperson of the three-member mediation committee, Justice Kalifulla submitted the status report in the Supreme Court.

The outcome of the mediation process undertaken by the three-member panel, headed by former apex court judge Kalifulla, following the 8 March order, will be considered by a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on 2 August to decide the future course of action.

Content of Report to Remain Confidential

The Bench, which perused a report about the progress of mediation process till 18 July, said that its contents will remain confidential as per its earlier order.

“However, taking into account what has been brought to our notice by the said report, we now fix the hearing of the cases on and from 2 July. The Bench will assemble again on the said date that is 2 August at 2:00 pm. Office to make the cases ready for hearing,” said the Bench.

SC Takes Note of Plea Alleging Disparity in Translated Records

It also took on record an application filed by the legal representatives of one of the original litigant M Sidiq (since deceased) which sought permission to point out discrepancies in the translations, if any, at the time of referring the relevant document during the final arguments of the matter.

The application contains a list of alleged "glaring errors" in translated judicial records.

"The application is taken on record and liberty as prayed for is granted. The application accordingly stands disposed of," it ordered.

“It is prayed that this court may be pleased to permit the applicant herein to point out discrepancies in the translations, if any, at the time of referring the said document during the final arguments,” the plea said.

The Supreme Court on 11 July had asked the mediation panel headed by Justice Kalifulla to inform the court of the status of mediation by 18 July.

The court further said that if the panel’s report indicates that the dispute cannot be solved through mediation, the matter will be heard by the apex court on a day-to-day basis starting 25 July.

One of the original litigants in the Ram Janmabhoomi case had, on 9 July, moved the Supreme Court seeking early hearing of the matter.

The litigant had said that “nothing much has been happening” in the case which was referred to a three-member panel of mediators.

The panel, also comprising spiritual guru and founder of the Art of Living foundation Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate and renowned mediator Sriram Panchu, was earlier granted time till 15 August by the apex court for the completion of mediation after its earlier report had said that the mediators were "optimistic" about an amicable solution.

In 2010, the Allahabad High Court had ruled that that 2.7 acre disputed land at the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site be equally divided among Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and Sunni Wakf Board.

On 6 December 1992, the Babri Masjid, constructed at the disputed site in the 16th century by Shia Muslim Mir Baqi, was demolished.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI).