‘Come with an open mind for discussion’
After the Supreme Court offered mediation to find an amicable solution to the Ayodhya dispute on Tuesday, legal experts from both the sides started exploring the possibility of an out-of-court settlement.
“Compromise is always welcome provided the other party comes with an open mind,” said advocate Madan Mohan Pandey who is representing Ram Lala Virajman in the Supreme Court.
“The Allahabad high court tried to work out an out-of-court settlement. Two former prime ministers have also tried the same. If the other party agrees to give up their claim, it would be a welcome step,” Pandey said.
“The HC judgment in 2011 said Lord Ram was born under the central dome of the makeshift temple in Ayodhya and Hindus have the right to worship there. If they come up with a proposal which is convenient for us, we can solve the dispute,” he added.
“We are willing to discuss the matter if they accept it as the birth place of Lord Ram. Had it not been so, we would have happily agreed to shift the temple. As the worship of Lord Ram is going on there, we cannot part with that piece of land,” he said.
Harishankar Jain, another advocate who represented Ram Lala Virajman in the high court said: “The primary duty of the court is to encourage the people for an out-of-court settlement under Section 89 of CPC, which should be welcomed.”
“The court has done its duty by calling upon the parties for settlement. But this is not an order and no one is compelled to arrive at a compromise. However, a compromise is unlikely as the Hindus will never give up the land. No Hindu has the right to make a compromise on the land which belongs to the deity. It is the property of the deity and does not belong to any individual. No compromise is possible unless the other party agrees to give up its claim,” he pointed out.
President of Ram Janmbhoomi Nyas Mahant Nritya Gopal Das said, “There is Modi government at the Centre and Yogi government in the state. A solution will be found.”
The Supreme Court’s suggestion for fresh attempts by all parties to find a solution to the Ayodhya temple dispute has given relevance to the six-year efforts of justice (retired) Palok Basu of the Allahabad high court to resolve the matter out of court.
Basu had formed a team of over a dozen local non-political representatives of Hindu and Muslim communities.
The proposed formula suggested: The Ram JanmabhoomiBabri Masjid land dispute should be resolved peacefully by the people of Ayodhya-Faizabad, the southern part of the land should be separately enclosed by a boundary wall and there shall be no construction on this land, Muslims shall get required land for the mosque, in the decided ratio, as per court orders.
Justice Basu claimed that over 10,000 signatures (5,000 from each community) were received in support of his fourpoint formula.
His close associate Gyan Prakash Srivastava said SC has to announce the date of argument on their proposal.
SACHCHIDANAND SHUKLA