SC says noto plea tohearAyodhya case after 2019

Next hearing fixed on Feb 8 even as Sunni Wakf Board says verdict could have political implications

This is not an ordinary suit... It will have serious ramifications. The court should not hear this matter that will have an impact on polity

KAPIL SIBAL, appearing for the Sunni Wakf Board On the one hand, temples are being visited. On the other hand, they are trying to delay hearing. The Congress has double standards

AMIT SHAH, BJP chief, asking Rahul Gandhi to clear Congress stand

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday decided to continue the final hearing of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case on February 8 next year, brushing aside the plea of the Sunni Wakf Board to postpone it till after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as the final verdict would have political and electoral repercussions.

The Wakf Board’s stand, articulated by its counselKapil Sibal, a senior Congress leader, took on a political hue outside the court, with Bharatiya Janata Party president Am it Shah asking Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to clear his stand on the Ram temple issue.

“On the one hand, temples are being visited (by Gandhi) ahead of elections. On the other hand, they (the Congress) are trying to delay hearing of the Ram Jan mabhoomi case. The Congress has double standards on the issue. They should clarify their stand,” Shah said in Ahmedabad.

Shah demanded the case be heard as soon as possible, saying: “The Supreme Court should give a judgment and a grand Ram temple should be built in Ayodhya.”

Appearing f or theWaqf Board, one of the plaintiffs in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, Sibal took strong objection to the manner in which the hearing was expedited on the request of “someone (BJP leader Subra- mania nSw amy) who is not even a party in the case”.

The Supreme Court commenced the final hearing of the case at a time when the Congress and the BJP are engaged in a political battle in poll-bound Gujarat, where the opposition party is aspiring to dislodge the BJP from power after 22 years. The BJP’s criticism of the Congress over Sib al’ s arguments in the top court could reignite a debate on the Ram temple issue and Hindutva.

It was on Swam y’ s request that the then Chief J us ticeJSKh eh ar set up a bench to hear 13 appeals against the Allahabad high court’ s 2010 judgment in the case.

A circular was issued on August 3, listing the matter for a hearing on August 11.