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CoverStory
he Supreme Court on November 9 paved the way for
construction of much awaited Ram Temple on the
site of Babri mosque that had been demolishedby
frenzy Hindutva mob in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh on
December 6, 1992. The apex court cleared the decks
for temple on disputed land but simultaneously
T ordered five acres of different land to be allotted to
Sunni Waqf Board for construction of Mosque in Ayodhya. The Bench
LK Advani describes also held that the destruction of the Mosque was against the rule of law.
Ayodhya verdict as a
moment of ‘fulfilment’ The Court also directed the Centre to come up with a scheme envis-
for him aging the setting up of a trust. The possession of the inner and outer
courtyards of the dispute structure has to be given to this trust. The
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ayodhya verdict
AyodhyA dispute Chronology
1529: Babri Mosque constructed by Mir Baqi. 1989: All title suits shifted to Allahabad High Court. June 30th, 2009: Liberhan Commission report
1885: Court Dispute Begins — Mahant Raghubir Another suit in name of Ram Lalla Virajman filed in submitted — After a delay of 17 years, the Librehan
the High Court, naming the parties in the Nirmohi Commission submits its report to the Prime Minis-
Das files the first suit in the matter, seeking to
build a temple on land adjoining the mosque. The Akhara (1959) and Sunni Waqf Board (1961) suits ter, though its contents are not made public.
Faizabad District Magistrate (DM) refuses him as defendants. September 30, 2010: Allahabad HC splits land in
permission. Next, Mahant Raghubir Das files a September 25, 1990: Rath Yatra — LK Advani three ways — The High Court delivers its judgment,
title suit in Faizabad Court against the Secretary launches a Rath Yatra from Somnath (Gujarat) to dividing the land between three parties: one third
of State for India, seeking permission to build a Ayodhya (UP) to incite support for the Movement. for the Sunni Wakf Board, one third for the Nirmohi
temple on the chabutra (courtyard) of the Babri Communal riots break out. Akhara and one third to Ram Lalla Virajman.
mosque. Faizabad Court rejects his plea. December 6, 1992: Babri demolished - Babri The judgment of the Lucknow Bench of the HC
Dec 1949: Ram Idol Appears inside the Mosque - Mosque razed by violent mob of Karsevaks. The of September 30, 2010, which divided the disputed
On the night of 22nd December, a Ram Idol appears Karsevaks leave behind a make-shift temple in land in Ayodhya in 2:1 ratio among the Muslim and
inside the mosque. Hindus see the appearance of its place. Hindu litigants.
the Idol as a divine revelation, however many argue December 16, 1992: Liberhan Commission formed The HC allotted the dome of the demolished
that the Idol was smuggled inside at night. Hindus — 10 days after the Mosque was demolished, the Babri Masjid, under which the makeshift temple
start offering prayers. PM forms a committee led by retired High Court currently stands, to the Hindus. The structure was
The Government declares the site as a “con- Judge M. S. Liberhan, to look into circumstances demolished by a group of Karsevaks on December
tested area” and locks the entrance. leading to the demolition of the Babri Mosque and 6, 1992. The nearby Ram Chabutra and Sita Rasoi
1950: Hindu sides file Suits — Two suits are filed the communal riots. The Commission was originally also went to the Nirmohi Akhara. The one-third
in Faizabad Court by Gopal Simla Viharad and mandated to submit its report within three months share of the Sunni Wakf Board comprise the outer
Paramhansa Ramachandra Das, seeking permis- of its formation. courtyard of the disputed land.
siong to conduct Hindu pujas to Ram Lalla. The May 2011: Supreme Court stays Allahabad High
Court granted the parties permission to conduct January 7, 1993: State acquires Ayodhya land — Court ruling — The SC admits a batch of petitions
pujas. The Court orders the inner courtyard gates Narsimha Rao Government issues an ordinance filed by all parties. A Division Bench of Justices
to remain locked. acquiring 67.7 acres of land (Site and adjoining Aftam Alam and R.M. Lodha term the High Court
areas). Later it was passed as a law — Acquisition
1959: Third Hindu suit filed — Nirmohi Akhara files of Certain Areas at Ayodhya Act, 1993 to facilitate Judgment as “strange”. RM Lodha observs “a new
third suit, seeking possession of the land. acquisition of land by Central government. dimension has been given by the High Court as the
1961: Muslim suit filed — UP Sunni Wakf Board 1994: Ismail Faruqui Judgment — The SC by decree of partition was not sought by the parties. It
was not prayed for by anyone. It has to be stayed.
files a suit seeking possession of Babri Mosque a majority of 3:2 upheld the constitutionality of It’s a strange order. How can a decree for partition
site. They also demand the removal of Ram Idols Acquisition of Certain Areas at Ayodhya Act. be passed when none of the parties had prayed
from Babri Masjid. The majority judgment by former CJI JS Verma for it?..”
1984: Ram Janmbhoomi Movement commences reasoned that every religious immovable property March 21, 2017: Former Chief Justice Khehar sug-
— Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) constitutes a is liable to be acquired. The SC adjudged that gests an out of court settlement among all parties.
group to start the Ram Janmbhoomi Movement. offering namaz at mosque was not integral to Islam August 11, 2017: 3 judge bench of SC starts hearing
BJP leader LK Advani is made the leader of the unless that mosque had any particular significance the matter — The 3 judge bench of SC comprising
campaign. in Islam. The judgment has been criticized for CJI Dipak Misra, Justices Ashok Bhushan and
1st February, 1986: Inner Gate of Babri Mosque regarding the mosque as a non-essential place of Abdul Nazeer began hearing the appeal.
worship.
opened — A third party, lawyer UC Pandey appeals There were no reviews filed against Ismail Feb — July 2018: The petitioners argue that the SC
for the gates to be unlocked before the Faizabad Faruqui ought to refer the 1994 Ismail Faruqui judgment to a
Session Court, on the grounds that the Faizabad April 2002: Ayodhya Title Dispute case begins — 7-judge Bench for reconsideration.
district administration, and not a Court, had The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court
ordered its closure. begins hearing Ayodhya Title Dispute. July 20, 2018: SC reserves verdict — The SC
District Judge orders the locks to be removed reserves judgment on the question of referring the
to allow Hindu “pooja and darshan”. Muslims March — August 2003: ASI Survey — Archaeo- appeal to a larger Bench
constitute a Babri Mosque Action Committee logical Survey of India begins excavating the land September 27, 2018: SC refuses to form a larger
(BMAC) in protest. underneath the disputed site on the directions of Bench — The 3 judge bench in a split of 2:1
November 9, 1989: Shilanayas performed - PM the Allahabad High Court. It claims to have found verdict held that the Ismail Faruqui judgment
remnants of a 10th century Hindu Temple. Muslims
Rajiv Gandhi allows the VHP to perform Shilanayas question the ASI report. of 1994 does not require reconsideration by a
(laying of foundation stone) near disputed area. larger bench.
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