March 8, 2019
NEW DELHI: A Constitution bench of the Supreme Court on Friday referred the
Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute to a three-member panel for mediation.
The committee has been given a month's time to submit its report to the court.
The five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said in
its order, "Mediation proceedings will remain confidential. There would be no
reporting in any media."
The panel to be headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice FM Ibrahim Kalifulla
and comprising of spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram
Panchu would meet the petitioners at Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh.
"This move towards mediation by the Hon Supreme Court is in the best interest
of the country and all parties concerned. We should not leave any stone unturned
in resolving this burning issue amicably. We should keep our egos and differences
aside and come together with a spirit of honouring & accommodating the sentiments
of the communities concerned, " tweeted Ravi Shankar.
Fourteen appeals were filed in the apex court against the Allahabad High Court
judgment of 2010. The High Court had ordered partitioning of the disputed 2.77
acres of land equally among the three parties. The beneficiary parties were
Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
The Ram Janmabhoomi dispute came into limelight after the demolition of the
mosque which was standing there, on December 6, 1992.
The Hindus believe that the 16th century mosque was built by Mughal emperor
Babur at the birth place of Lord Ram after demolishing a temple there.
