Today is the day when a five-judge bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi will pronounce the verdict in one of the country’s significant and sensitive cases i.e. the Ayodhya land dispute case. The verdict comes in less than a month after the apex court concluded the final hearing in the controversial case on October 16, 2019. The case has a long history which we have summarized for a quick recap of the case.
What is the story of Ram Mandir?
The Ayodhya land dispute is focused on a plot of land in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, which is regarded among the Hindus to be the birthplace of the Hindu deity Ram. According to some beliefs, it was originally the site of a Hindu temple that was demolished to construct a mosque known as Babri Masjid. On the other hand, Muslims claim that the land was titled to them and Mir Baqi built the mosque on it in 1528 on orders of the first Mughal emperor, Babur. The Mosque was constructed with the huge campus where both the Hindus and Muslims can worship under a single umbrella which means Muslims inside the mosque and Hindus outside the mosque but inside the compound, i.e. “Mosque-Temple,”.
In 1853, for the first time, the incident of communal violence was recorded during the reign of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. People’s who represented the Hindu community stated that Mosques was built after the demolition of the Hindu temple.
What is the story of Babri Masjid?
Meanwhile, in 1859, the possession of the site led to communal clashes. Hence, the British built a fence that separates the places of worships which means the inner court to be used by Muslims and the outer court by Hindus.
In 1885, Faizabad District Court rejected the plea of Mahant Raghubir Das for the building a canopy on Ram Chabootra.
The Plight of violent controversies arises when some Muslims in 1949 saw an idol of Ram being placed inside what was then a mosque. Both Hindu and Muslim sides claimed ownership of the site and that led to an eventual lockdown of the area by the government.
The Full Story: Ram Janmabhoomi and Babri Masjid
On January 18, 1950, Gopal Singh Visharad suit filed for seeking permission for the right to worship the idols installed at ‘Asthan Janmabhoomi’. The court held back the removal of idols and allowed worship.
On December 17, 1959, Nirmohi Akhara filed a suit seeking possession of the site and claimed to be the custodians of the spot at which Ram was supposedly born. Following this, the Sunni Central Board of Waqf also filed a suit claiming ownership of the site on December 18, 1961.
In 1986, based on Hari Shankar Dubey’s plea, a district court directed to unlock the gate for ‘darshan’ to the Hindu community. In the protest of the verdict, Muslims set up Babri Masjid Action Committee. As a result, the gate was opened for less than an hour and again remains locked.
Who broke the Ram Mandir?
On October 23, 1989, the entire file suit related to the Babri-Masjid Disputes comes under the scanner of a Special Bench of High Court. Later, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) puts foundation stone on land adjacent to the disputed mosque.
Later on December 6, 1992, some Hindu Kar Sevaks demolished Babri masjid, an action that triggered communal riots all over India, killing at least 2,000 people.
Over the years, the matter has been brought up by both groups in various courts of the country. In 1996, Allahabad High Court clubs all civil suits under the single table.
Who broke Babri Masjid?
In 2002, the High Court passes an order to the Archaeological Survey of India to find out if there would be evidence of temple beneath the Mosque.
In January 2003, The Archaeological Survey of India started excavation to find out the evidence of temple beneath the Babri-Masjid disputed land and submitted its report that there is evidence of temple based on stone columns and pillars that might be a representation of Hindu, Buddhist or Jaina elements.
In June 2009, Librahan Commission submitted its report and the report blames politicians from BJP for their role in the demolition.
What is result of Ayodhya case?
On July 26, 2010, Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court reserves its order and suggested all the parties should resolve the issue through a friendly discussion but unfortunately no one keen interested.
On September 30, 2010, the Allahabad High Court ruled that the disputed 2.77-acre land in Ayodhya should be divided into three parts among the Hindus, Muslims and the Nirmohi Akhara. The petitioners moved the Supreme Court and the apex court stayed the HC verdict.
In 2011, the Supreme Court stays with the judgment of Allahabad High Court on the splitting of the disputed land and states that the status quo remains.
In 2016, the court started a fresh hearing of the case. In 2017, the SC said that the matter was sensitive and suggested for the case to be settled out of court. It asked stakeholders to hold talks and find an amicable solution. However, no solution was achieved. In 2018, the Supreme Court set up a five-judge Constitution Bench to hear the land dispute case.
Who are the judges of Ayodhya case?
The five-judge Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, started day-to-day hearing on the matter from August 6, 2019, and midway through the proceedings, directed the advocates to finish the argument by October 16.
The Supreme Court, on October 16, 2019, concluded hearings in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya and reserved its judgment, which is likely to be passed in November 4-17. And as revealed above today is the day when the panel will announce their judgment on the political, historical and socio-religious case of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya.
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