Some parties open to compromise solution

Hindu side by at least three parties — Nirvani Akhara, the parent body of the Nirmohi Akhara, and the Ram Janmabhoomi Punrudhar Committee represented by Swami Avimukteshwaranand.

To be sure, two of the main parties from the Hindu side, the infant deity Ram Lalla and the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, have not signed the settlement. Nor has the Jamiat Ulema-e-hind from the Muslim side. In other words, most of the hardline groups on either side of the case are not on board with the settlement plan submitted by the mediators.

The settlement also asked for a national institution for harmony between communities to be set up in Ayodhya.

In September 2010, the Allahabad high court ordered trifurcation of the disputed land among the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and representatives of Ram Lalla. Fourteen appeals were filed in the top court against the high court verdict.

The Supreme Court in March 2019 referred the matter to the three-member mediation panel. The proceedings did not result in any settlement, the mediation panel said in August. But the efforts were revived in September, and the mediation panel submitted its final report to the top court on October 16 (Wednesday), the last day of hearing.

“In no way can it said that the Sunni Waqf Board has withdrawn its claim from the petition. The trial has been completed and the judgment is reserved. But in a case as important and complicated as this, the road map could prove to be an important tool towards reaching a verdict that resolves the issue,” said a person familiar with the developments who asked not to be named.

Media reports early on Thursday suggested that the Sunni Central Waqf Board had in a dramatic twist withdrawn its petition in the matter. To this, Sunni Waqf Board advocate Zafaryab Jilani clarified: “Any application of withdrawal will be given in court. No application has been filed.”

MR Shamshad, the advocate for Iqbal Ansari, one of the individual parties to the case, said such an agreement will have no bearing on the matter. “Even if the board [Sunni Sunni Central Waqf Board] has agreed to something, it is of no consequence. This case is being contested by six other [individual Muslim] parties... Sunni Board is one party, and it has no more locus than any other individual Muslim party.”

A verdict is expected by November 17, which is when Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, who heads the Constitution bench, retires.