SC for talks to settle Ayodhya
CJI tells claimants of land to talk it out Offers to mediate between them
Days after the BJP’s win in UP Assembly polls and Yogi Adityanath taking over as the Chief Minister, the Ram Mandir issue is back on the national centre stage.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court suggested an out-of-court settlement of the Ram JanmabhumiBabri Masjid land dispute at Ayodhya. Observing that the sensitive religious issue involving faith must be sorted out through talks between the parties, the court indicated that one of its judges can be spa-red to mediate between the parties.
Chief Justice J.S. Khehar, sitting with Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, himself offered to mediate between the parties. The CJI told the BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who sought early hearing of the appeals. “These are not issues which can be sorted out in a huff. Why don’t you (counsels) sit and sort it out? Sit across, give a bit here, take a bit there?” The CJI asked Dr Swamy to mention the matter again on March 31.
We were always ready. Mandir and masjid should be built; but masjid should be built on other side of Sarayu river. The Ram Janmabhoomi should be entirely for Ram Mandir
— SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY
Wasting no time, Hindutva hardliners and Union ministers like Giriraj Singh and Uma Bharti demanded the construction of the “magnificent Ram temple” at the disputed site, while the Babri Masjid Action Committee ruled out an out-of-court settlement.
Earlier, seeking early hearing Swamy told the Bench, “This is an issue of great public interest. It has been pending in this court for six years. We should be heard. If we can prove that there was pre-existing temple there (in the disputed site), the land should be handed over to us. The other side is claiming the land by adverse possession. This is a matter of faith.”
The CJI said: “We will hear this soon after the summer vacation as soon as we have three new judges. But why don’t you sit across a table and sort it out?” Swamy said that he had already spoken to all parties and tried this.
The Chief Justice, however, rejected his submission saying that they must try again.
“If you want any sitting judge to sit between we can give you one. You can have me. Or you can have my brother (Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul)? We will not then hear the case later. You need a moderator to sit in-between because there are tough issues to sort out. But this is the best way to sort such issues out. Speak to them again. Any sitting judge. These are issues of religion involving sentiments. Sit across the board and settle,” he said.