The Supreme Court on Tuesday commenced hearing in the politically sensitive case of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya after the efforts to arrive at an amicable settlement through mediation have failed.
"Let us begin the hearing," said a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. The bench, also comprising Justices S.A. Bobde, D.Y. Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S.A. Nazeer, had on August 2 taken note of the report of the three-member mediation panel, headed by former apex court judge FMI Kalifulla, that the mediation proceedings, which went on for about four months have not resulted in any final settlement.
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Commencing the hearing, the apex court rejected the plea for recording of Ayodhya case proceedings as sought by former RSS ideologue K.N. Govindacharya. The counsel for Nirmohi Akhara commenced the arguments saying its suit is basically for belongings, possession and management rights. It claimed right over disputed 2.77 acre Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land.
"We were in possession of inner courtyard and Ram Janmasthan for hundreds of years... Outer courtyard having 'Sita Rasoi', 'Chabutra', 'Bhandar Grah' were in Akhara's possession and was never part of dispute in any case," stated Nirmohi Akhara.
It added that no Muslims were allowed to enter the structure since 1934 and it has been in exclusive possession of Nirmohi Akhara, the counsel argued on behalf of Akhara.
(With PTI inputs)
