SC for Ayodhya dispute’s amicable settlement, CJI offers to mediate

NEW DELHI : The Supreme Court called for an amicable settlement to a decades-old dispute over a religious site in Ayodhya on Tuesday, saying the “sensitive and sentimental matter” is best settled out of court.

Chief Justice JS Khehar even offered to mediate such out-ofcourt negotiations, the latest push from the courts to resolve a dispute over 2.7-acre of land that remains India’s most potent communal flashpoint between many Hindus and Muslims.

Rival religious groups that stake claim to the site welcomed the court’s suggestion but appeared largely unenthused, given that at least nine past attempts at negotiated settlement had failed. The first such efforts date back to 1859.

“These are issues where all the parties can sit together and arrive at a consensual decision to end the dispute,” Justice Khehar told the rival counsels.

The court said both sides must adopt a “give a bit and take a bit” approach. The remarks came after BJP leader Subramanian Swamy sought an urgent hearing. When Swamy pointed out that past attempts at a negotiated settlement had failed, Justice Khehar offered to mediate or choose a principal negotiator.

BLOOD-SOAKED ROW

For almost 150 years, Hindus and Muslims have quarrelled over the ownership of a small parcel of land in the historical town of Ayodhya. To many Hindus the site is the birthplace of their god-king Rama, and that the 16th century Muslim invader, Babar, built a mosque there after destroying a temple.

In 1992, Hindu zealots tore down the Babri mosque, sparking nationwide riots in which about 3,000 people were killed.

A decades-long court battle has failed to resolve the dispute.

In 2010, the Allahabad high court ruled Hindus would get two-thirds of the land and be allowed to keep a makeshift temple that was built over the razed mosque’s central dome. Muslim groups challenged the verdict in the top court. Lawyers representing the two sides did not budge from their known positions on the dispute but said they weren’t against the idea. But Asaduddin Owaisi, the rabble-rousing Muslim leader of AIMIM party, virtually ruled out an out-of-court settlement.

“Several rounds of talks on earlier occasion have failed to yield result… the case was about the (land) title which the Allahabad high court wrongly decided as a partnership case,” he said.

At last three central government ministers said they supported the court offer.

“It’s a superb advice,” said culture minister Mahesh Sharma. “(It) would pave the way for construction of the Ram temple.”

We are ready with CJI mediating... we trust him... But outofcourt settlement is not possible ZAFARYAB JILANI, Babri Masjid Action Committee chairman If both parties mutually agree to settle the matter out of court then it’s the best way to maintain social harmony and peace RANDEEP SURJEWALA, Cong spokesperson Govt must bring and pass the law to build Ram Temple in Ayodhya at the birth place of Shreeram PRAVEEN TOGADIA, VHP leader