SC suggests out-of-court settlement for Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue

It said the land be partitioned equally among Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and 'Ram Lalla'

The Supreme Court on Tuesday suggested an out-of-court settlement of the 70-year-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute at Ayodhya, observing that issues of “religion and sentiments” can be best resolved through talks.

Chief Justice J S Khehar also offered to mediate, even as the Bench headed by him suggested that the parties to the dispute adopt a “give a bit and take a bit” approach for meaningful and sincere negotiations to resolve the issue.

The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court had in 2010 ruled for a three-way division of the disputed 2.77 acres at the site in Uttar Pradesh. The three-judge Bench, by a majority of 2:1, had said the land be partitioned equally among three parties — Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and the ‘Ram Lalla’ (nascent Lord Ram).

Sangh Parivar outfits welcomed the SC observation. The apex court’s observation comes in the wake of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s emphatic victory in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. The BJP had included construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya as one of its poll promises for UP. 

However, the Babri Masjid Action Committee pointed out that attempts at out-of-court settlements in the past have been unsuccessful. “We are ready with Chief Justice (of India) mediating... we trust him. We are also ready if he nominates a team for hearing the matter. But out-of-court settlement is not possible. If SC passes an order in this regard, we will look into it,” said Zafaryab Jilani, convenor of the committee which is a party to the case.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad, the standard bearer of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, said now the way was clear for the Narendra Modi government to pass a law in Parliament for building a temple at the disputed site.

Union Ministers Giriraj Singh and Uma Bharti, considered Hindu hardliners in the Modi government, insisted that the temple be built at the disputed site. New Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said both sides should sit to resolve the differences and find a way out. “Whatever cooperation they require from the state government, we will give that,” he said. 

In the weekly parliamentary party meeting of the BJP on Tuesday, Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, in the context of the party’s victory in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, said party MPs should reach out to the Muslim community.

The Congress also welcomed the Supreme Court’s observation. Its spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala, said it would be the best way to maintain peace and social harmony if both the communities can reach a consensus on the issue.