Ayodhya case: Justice Lalit recuses himself; new Bench to hear on Jan 29

Ayodhya land dispute case: Justice U U Lalit recuses from Ayodhya Bench as Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhavan points out that he appeared for Kalyan Singh in a related matter

Ayodhya case: The Supreme Court on Thursday deferred the Ayodhya title dispute case to January 29, saying the five-judge bench that was to hear the case will be reconstituted as Justice U U Lalit recused himself.

The apex court took the decision after senior counsel Rajeev Dhawan, appearing for one of the Muslim parties, told the bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi that Justice Lalit in 1997 appeared for former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh in one of the matters related to the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute.

Singh is currently the Rajasthan Governor.

Soon after, Justice Lalit conveyed to Chief Justice Gogoi and other members of the bench — Justice S A Bobde, Justice N V Ramana, Justice D Y Chandrchud — of his reluctance to continue on the bench and recused himself.

ALSO READ: Ayodhya case: A timeline of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute

The court, thereafter, directed its registry to go through all the records relating to the Ayodhya case which are available with it and submit a report by January 29 as to how much time it would require for translating the documents and the case material which are in Persian, Arabic, Urdu and Gurmukhi languages.

However, when senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for one of the Hindu litigants, offered to assist the registry in the handling of the papers and their translations, Chief Justice Gogoi said that he will rely entirely on his own registry to do the job.

ALSO READ: Let the court decide

Having directed the secretary general of the Supreme Court to submit the report in 15 days the court directed that the reconstituted bench will hold the hearing on January 29.

The Supreme Court had said that the bench will hear several petitions challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgement on the Ayodhya title dispute. 

ALSO READ: SC to hear Ayodhya title dispute case today: Everything you need to know

The Allahabad High Court had in 2010 trifurcated the disputed site, giving one portion each to Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and the original Muslim litigant.

Catch LIVE updates of the Ayodhya case hearing here 

11:21 AM

As the matter will be heard on January 29, here's a complete timeline of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute

 

11:06 AM

Protests near Pragati Maidan metro station in front of one of the SC gates

 

Supporters of Ram Mandir raise slogans

 

10:58 AM

Supporters of Ram Mandir raise slogans

10:53 AM

Supreme Court fixes January 29 as the next date of hearing

10:52 AM

A new bench to be constituted

10:52 AM

Justice U U Lalit recuses from Ayodhya Bench as Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhavan points out that he appeared for Kalyan Singh in a related matter

10:51 AM

CJI Gogoi says that Justice Lalit expressed the desire to recuse from hearing the matter, as it would not seem appropriate for him to continue in the bench, although the merits of the case is unrelated to contempt case

10:48 AM

Hearing adjourned

10:47 AM

Justice U U Lalit recuses himself from Constitution bench after one of the petitioner points out he had appeared for the then UP CM Kalyan Singh as a lawyer in the case

Justice Lalit had appeared for Kalyan Singh in a criminal case related to Ayodhya issue

 

 

10:40 AM

Supreme Court says no hearing today, only date and schedule to be decided

10:37 AM

"That is why, to say that Ram was born here and we will make the temple here only and will demolish the Babri Mosque for that.. . Is it wrong to have faith in Allah for a Hindustani," he said.

 

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10:34 AM

"Make the temple by all means, if you want to. But how can you say 'Mandir wahin banayenge' (we will make the temple there only). Dashrath (Lord Ram's father) was a great king and his palace had more than 10,000 rooms, it is believed. Who knows which room was where?" Aiyar had asked

 

10:34 AM

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Tuesday questioned people's rationale of insisting on making the Ram temple at a specific location and asked them how they knew where exactly Lord Ram was born.

10:01 AM

9:53 AM

Modi's comments had come amidst heightened demands by Hindutava organisations, including the RSS, for an ordinance for an early construction of the temple.

 

"Let the judicial process take its own course. Don't weigh it in political terms. Let the judicial process be over. After the judicial process is over, whatever be our responsibility as government, we are ready to make all efforts," the prime minister had said during an interview, broadcast by several TV channels.