THE AYODHYA DISPUTE: OVER THE YEARS
A timeline of the controversy that has whipped up passions and triggered heated socio-political debates
1528:
Babri Masjid built
1959:
Nirmohi Akhara files suit, seeking possession of the site
1981:
UP Sunni Central Waqf Board files suit for possession of the site
DEC 6, 1992 :
Babri Masjid structure demolished
MAY 9, 2011 :
SC stays HC verdict on Ayodhya land dispute
SEP 30, 2010:
In a 2:1 majority, HC rules the division of disputed area among Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla
2002:
Allahabad HC begins hearing on determining who owns the disputed site
OCT 24, 1994:
In the historic Ismail Faruqui case, SC says that a mosque is not integral to practising Islam
FEB 26, 2016:
Subramanian Swamy files plea in SC seeking construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site
MAR 21, 2017:
Then CJI JS Khehar suggests out-of-court settlement among the litigants
JUL 20, 2018:
SC reserves verdict
APR 6, 2018:
Rajeev Dhavan files plea in SC to refer the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgment to a larger bench
MAR 14, 2018:
SC rejects all interim pleas, including Swamy’s, seeking to intervene as parties in the case
FEB 8, 2018:
SC starts hearing the civil appeals
AUG 7, 2017:
SC constitutes a three-judge bench to hear pleas challenging the 1994 verdict
SEP 27, 2018:
SC declines to refer the case to a 5-judge Constitution bench, says civil suit will be heard by a 3-judge bench from Oct 29 but it later referred the matter to a special bench
JAN 25, 2019:
Special Constitution bench is formed to hear the case
MARCH 8, 2019:
SC refers the matter for mediation to a panel headed by retired SC judge FMI Kalifulla
AUG 2, 2019:
The mediation proceedings did not result in any final settlement, the mediation panel said
OCT 16, 2019:
SC reserves judgment in Ayodhya title dispute, closes arguments
AUG 6, 2019:
Five-judge Constitution bench begin hearing the Ayodhya title dispute