WHEN NEGOTIATIONS FAILED
It is not for the first time when an ‘out-of-court’ settlement in the Ram JanmabhoomiBabri Masjid dispute has come to public domain. The top court on Tuesday asked the two warring factions to make fresh attempts for negotiations. Among nine failed attempts, three were initiated by former Prime Ministers - Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chandra Shekhar and PV Narasimha Rao. The first attempt was made by the British in 1859 when a fence was erected to separate the places of worship for both communities
1859 Aftersomeclashes,British administration erected a fence to separatetheplacesofworship. The inner court was to be used by Muslims and the outer court by Hindus. The arrangement didn’t last long as Mahant Raghubar Das filed a suit in 1885 for permission to build a canopy on Ram Chabootra 1990 Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar tried to resolve the dispute through negotiations when VHP volunteers partially damaged the mosque. But the talks failed next year
Dec 16, 1992 Ten days after the mosque was razed, PM PV Narsimha Rao was instrumental in setting up a commission of inquiry under Justice Liberhan. The panel submitted report on June 30, 2009. Its contents were not made public
June 2002 Prime Minister AB Vajpayee set up an Ayodhya cell and appointed senior official, Shatrughna Singh, to hold talks with Hindu and Muslim leaders This too could not bear any fruits
July26,2010 The Lucknow bench of Allahabad HC reserved its judgement and advised all parties to solve the issue amicably. But no one was keen and the court said the verdict would be pronounced on September 24
Sep23,2010 A plea for an out-of-court settlement reached Supreme Court. But the court rejected it and subsequently gave nod to the Allahabad HC to deliver the judgement. The high court chose September 30 as verdict day
Feb24, 2015 Mohammad Hashim Ansari, the oldest litigant from Muslim side, met Akhara Parishad president, Mahant Gyan Das, to discuss a new proposal for resolution which they planned to put before the Supreme Court. The formula for settlement that talked about the 70 acres of disputed site accommodating both mosque and temple could not take off.
April 10, 2015 Another attempt to negotiate started when the litigants from both the parties met in Ayodhya. Swami Chakrapani president of All India Hindu Mahasabha, the main litigant from Hindu side, met the Muslimlitigants fighting the case. From the Muslim side, the oldest litigant of Babri Masjid case, Mohammad Hashim Ansari, his son and his legal representative were present.
May 31, 2016 Leaders from Hindu and Muslim sides met again. Mahant Narendra Giri, president of All India Akhara Parishad, met Hashim Ansari, the oldest surviving litigant in the case. He passed away a month later.