The Supreme Court on Friday extended the mediation committee on Ayodhya till August 15.
The court said the members of the committee were not experiencing any difficulty in the mediation process.
The court observed that the Chairman of the committee, Justice F.M.I. Kalifulla, had indicated progress in mediation so far and sought extension of time to complete the task.
The court refused to divulge the details on the mediation efforts.
“We will not tell you the progress made, that is confidential,” replied the court to a counsel’s query regarding the mediation. The court observed that the mediation process can be also extended, if required.
The court’s observation came after a report was submitted on the mediation efforts.
The Apex Court 5 Judge Constitutional Bench on March 8 refered the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid Title Dispute Case for court-appointed and monitored mediation for a “permanent solution”. The Top Court Bench appointed three mediators that include – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Senior Advocate Sriram Panchu – a trained mediator. The Panel will be headed by Justice (r) Khalifulah.
Major Highlights of the Case
- The Top Court Five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on March 6 said Parties to suggest a name for mediator or panel for mediators.Apart from CJI, the other 4 Judges includes – Justice SA Bobde, Justice NV Ramana, Justice UU Lalit and Justice DY Chandrachud.
- Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha – one of the Stakeholders in the Politically motivated case of Ram Janmabhoomi – Babri Masjid Case suggested three names as mediators in Ayodhya Title dispute case. The Hindu Mahasabha proposed the names of Former Chief Justices Dipak Misra, Jagdish Singh Khehar and Former Supreme Court Judge AK Patnaik.
- While Nirmohia Akhara also proposed names of Supreme Court Retired Judge Kurian Joseph, AK Patnaik and GS Singhvi.
- Justice SA Bobde while starting the hearing the case on March 6 said, ‘It’s about sentiments, about religion and about faith. We are conscious of the gravity of the dispute’. Justice added that there is need of panel of mediators and not just mediator to solve the issue.
- Muslim Stakeholders in the Case submitted before the court that they agree to go for Mediation. “Muslim petitioners are agreeable to mediation and any compromise or settlement will bind parties,” said Advocate Rajeev Dhavan who is appeared in the Court on behalf of a group of Muslim petitioners.
- The Apex Court had on February 26 pressed for court-monitored mediation to save time or not. Justice Bobde had said that ‘even if there is only a 1% chance of Mediation, it should be explored”
- Earlier, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had on Jan 25 reconstituted the 5 Judge Bench and inducted a Muslim Judge S Abdul Nazir.
- The new Bench was necessitated after Justice U U Lalit recused from the case on January 10. This was followed by Justice N V Ramana and UU Lalit withdrawing.
Background
The Allahabad High Court in 2010 verdict had divided the land between three petitioners — two favoured building a Ram Mandir at the Ayodhya site while the third wanted the Babri Masjid rebuilt.
All the stakeholders in the case moved to Top Court against the Allahabad High Court verdict. The Supreme Court has begun hearing those appeals. The Ayodhya Dispute title case deals with who owns the Ayodhya controversial land where Babri Masjid once stood that was later demolished and where Lord Ram Believed to have been born as claimed.
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