Twenty-five litigants in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case along with their counsels appeared before a Supreme Court-appointed mediation panel on Wednesday, 13 March.
Earlier on 8 March, the Supreme Court referred the politically sensitive land dispute case for mediation by a panel headed by former apex court judge FMI Kalifulla and gave it eight weeks to complete the process.
Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu are the other members of the panel, said a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.
- “Mediation proceedings will be confidential,” the CJI said, adding that media will be banned from reporting on it
- The court added that the mediation will be held on-camera
- A three-judge bench had in September 2018 refused to refer to a five-judge Constitution bench the issue related to reconsideration of the observation in the SC’s 1994 judgment that a mosque wasn’t integral to Islam
Litigants Appear Before SC-Appointed Panel in Faizabad
Twenty-five litigants in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case along with their counsels appeared before a Supreme Court-appointed mediation panel.
The Faizabad administration had issued notices to the 25 litigants on behalf of the panel.
The mediation process will take place at a hall at the Faizabad Avadh University, they said, adding that no one has been allowed to enter the area where the mediation is taking place.
Heavy security arrangements have been made at the university premises, Faizabad District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha said.
All India Babri Masjid Action Committee Meeting Called Over Ayodhya Matter
All India Babri Masjid Action Committee Convener Zafaryab Jilani on Tuesday, 12 March, called for a meeting of the Committee in Lucknow to deliberate over the Ayodhya land dispute matter, ANI reported.
Bring Ordinance on Ram Temple Before LS Poll Dates: Togadia
Former VHP leader Praveen Togadia on Friday, 8 March, said before the announcement of Lok Sabha election schedule, that the Narendra Modi government should bring an ordinance to facilitate construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
“The dates of national elections have not been announced yet. Modiji bring an ordinance and start construction of Ram temple. Or, no Ram Temple, no vote to BJP,” he said, as per PTI.
Slamming the Modi government, the Hindutva leader said: "Three ordinances have been promulgated on triple talaq for Muslim women. Why not one for the Mandir?"
Mediation the 'Best' Course: Paswan
Lok Janshakti Party chief and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday, 8 March, welcomed the Supreme Court order for time-bound mediation in the Ram temple case, saying if it leads to the issue's resolution, then this is the "best" course.
"We welcome this decision. If mediation leads to the dispute's resolution, then this is the best way," the BJP ally said in a tweet.