SC hearing on Ayodhya from October 29
The dispute has significant political ramifications, particularly in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls
The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday said it would not set up a larger Bench to review its 1994 observation which held a “mosque is not an essential part of the practice of Islam”. The apex court’s decision has paved the way for a threemember Bench to begin hearing the principal Ayodhya title suit from October 29. The Ayodhya dispute has significant political ramifications, particularly in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. ADULTERY IS NOT A CRIME: APEX COURT
The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday said it will not set up a larger Bench to review its 1994 verdict which held a "mosque is not an essential part of the practice of Islam". The apex court’s decision has paved the way for a three-member Bench to begin hearing the principal Ayodhya title suit from October 29. The Ayodhya dispute has significant political ramifications, particularly in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) welcomed the SC's decision. "We welcome this decision and are confident that a just verdict will be reached over the case at the earliest," the RSS said. Earlier this month, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had called for the construction of a "grand Ram temple" at the disputed site at the earliest, and suggested the Narendra Modi government should bring an ordinance to facilitate this. After the apex court's decision, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the majority of the country wanted a solution to the case at the earliest. "We appeal that this matter is resolved as soon as possible," Adityanath said in Varanasi.
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) termed it "some positive movement" in the case. With the SC stating it will hear only the title suit, that is the land dispute over the site, the AIMPLB said the verdict indicated the hearing will not be done on the basis of faith.
Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali said the AIMPLB had wanted the SC's 1994 observation that the mosque is not integral to Islam be put before a Constitution Bench" so that the matter is resolved permanently." "Two positive things have come from this verdict. First, the Ayodhya matter will not be heard on the basis of faith and will be
heard as a title suit," he said. "We hope the final hearing of Ayodhya will be completed soon. The Ayodhya hearing should not be linked with the (2019 Lok Sabha) elections," Mahali said. The Congress said its consistent position has been that all should honour the court judgment. Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said it was unfortunate the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has exploited the dispute to fool people since 1992.
The SC, in a 2:1 verdict, said on Thursday that the issue whether amosque is an essential
part of the practice of Islam was not relevant for deciding the Ram JanmabhoomiBabri Masjid title dispute.
A Muslim group had appealed to the SC to constitute a five-judge Bench to relook into the observation of a five-judge Constitution Bench in 1994 in the Ismail Faruqui case that amosque is not an essential part of Islam on the grounds that it has affected the decision of the high court in the land dispute.
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