Ayodhya dispute: Supreme Court appoints 3-member mediation team

The Supreme Court on Friday announced the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya would be/not be referred for mediation for its amicable resolution.

A five-member Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had reserved its order on the issue of mediation on Wednesday. The bench, also comprising Justices S.A. Bobde, D.Y. Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S.A. Nazeer, had asked the contesting parties to give names of possible stakeholders.

Hindu bodies like the Nirmohi Akhara suggested the names of retired justices Kurian Joseph, A.K. Patnaik and G.S. Singhvi as mediators, while the Hindu Mahasabha faction of Swami Chakrapani proposed the names of former chief justices J.S. Khehar and Dipak Misra and Patnaik.

Interestingly, while Muslim bodies supported the Supreme Court's suggestion of referring the Ayodhya dispute for mediation, only the Nirmohi Akhara, among the Hindu bodies, supported it. The Hindu Mahasabha was split on the issue of supporting mediation.

During its hearing on Wednesday, the Supreme Court declared the Ayodhya dispute was not just about 1,500sqft of land, but also about religious sentiments. The Supreme Court said it was conscious about the gravity of the Ayodhya dispute and its impact on the “body politics” of the country.