SC permits Muslim parties to file written note
IN THE NOTE, MUSLIM PARTIES STRESSED THAT THE VERDICT WILL HAVE ‘CONSEQUENCES’ FOR THE FUTURE POLITY
NEWDELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Muslim parties, including UP Sunni Wakf Board, to file their written note in the decades-old Ram JanmabhoomiBabri Masjid land dispute case, in which they have submitted that the verdict will have “consequences” for the future polity of the country.
A counsel for Muslim parties submitted before a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi that they be allowed to bring their written note on moulding of relief on record for the perusal of the fivejudge Constitution bench which had reserved its verdict on October 16 after conducting a 40-daylong hearing in the politically sensitive case.
A lawyer for the Muslim parties in the case said that various parties and the apex court registry had raised objection to the filing of the written note in sealed cover. “We have now served our written note to all the parties on Sunday,” the lawyer said and asked the bench to direct its registry to take their note on record.
The bench which also comprise justices S A Bobde and S A Nazeer, however, pointed out that the contents of the written note, filed in the sealed cover have already been reported in some sections of media.
The Muslim parties, which had filed the written note in the sealed cover to the Constitution bench, later issued a statement for the common public. “The Muslim party contestants before this Hon’ble Court wish to state that the decision by this Hon’ble Court, whichever way it goes, will impact future generations. It will also have consequences for the polity of this country,” the note prepared by senior lawyer Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for the Muslim parties, said.
It said that “this court’s decision may impact the minds of millions who are citizens of this country and who believe in constitutional values embraced by all when India was declared a republic on January 26, 1950.”
“We hope that the Court, in moulding the relief, upholds our multi-religious and multicultural values in resolving the issues confronting it. Moulding the relief is the responsibility of this Court, which itself is the sentinel of our Constitution. When moulding the relief, this Court must also consider how future generations will view this verdict,” it said.
On Saturday, the Hindu and Muslims parties had filed their written submissions in the Supreme Court with the counsel for the deity ‘Ram Lalla’ asserting that Hindus have been worshipping at the disputed area “since time immemorial” and the birthplace of the Lord Ram is “non-negotiable”. The top court, which reserved the verdict in the politically sensitive case on October 16 after hearing it for 40 days, had asked the litigating parties to submit their notes within three days.