SC LIKELY TO SET UP BENCH AS AYODHYA CASE RESUMES TODAY

The Supreme Court will decide on Monday the schedule of hearing and composition of the bench to hear petitions challenging a 2010 Allahabad high court judgment in the disputed Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title suit, as the legal battle surrounding one of India’s most contentious political issues resumes.

According to the list of daily business released by the Supreme Court registry, a threejudge bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, justice SK Kaul and justice KM Joseph will hear the case and is expected to set up a special bench to hear the decades-old case revolving around the ownership of a disputed site in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya. Hindu groups believe the 16th century mosque, Babri Masjid, was built over a temple dedicated to Hindu god Ram, whose birthplace is also considered to be at the site.

In 1992, a mob of thousands demolished the mosque, triggering a cycle of violence and riots across India.

After prolonged litigation, in September 2010, the Allahabad high court ordered a trifurcation of the disputed site between the Nirmohi Akhada, Ram Lalla (the deity is a party in the case through a legal representative) and the Sunni Muslim Waqf Board. The decision was immediately challenged before the apex court.

Advocate Saurabh Shyam Shamsheri, who is appearing for Ram Lalla, said, “When the matter is taken up by the court on Monday, we will press for early and day-to-day hearing in the matter.”