Ram Mandir Ayodhya case hearing highlights: The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its order over whether the crucial Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya can be settled through mediation. However, the court said it would pronounce its decision soon. During the hearing, the 5-judge apex court appeared divided over mediation route to settle the long-pending Ayodhya Ram Mandir dispute. Justice Bobde said the court is considering what is legal and can be binding on every party.
“You are looking at the outcome even before mediation is attempted. This is also about heart and mind and healing of relations,” Justice SA Bobde said reacting to submission by Hindu parties that mediation will be a failure.
“We cannot undo Babar invading etc. We can only decide what happens in the present,” Justice went on to add.
During the last hearing on February 26, the apex court had asked the contesting parties in the Ayodhya case to explore the possibility of resolving the decades old issue.
Even if there is “one per cent chance” of settling the dispute amicably, the parties should go for mediation, the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer, had observed.
“We are considering it (mediation) very seriously. You all (parties) have used the word that this matter is not adversarial. We would like to give a chance to mediation even if there is one per cent chance. We would like to know your (both parties) views on it. We do not want any third party to make a comment to jeopardise the entire process,” the bench had said.
While some of the Muslim parties agreed to the court’s suggestion on mediation, some Hindu bodies including the Ram Lalla Virajman opposed it, saying several such attempts have failed in the past.
(With PTI inputs)
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The Supreme Court bench has asked all parties to suggest names for panel of mediators so that it can pass an order today only.
The Supreme Court has reserved its order on mediation in Ram Mandir Ayodhya case. However, reports say the apex court could pass an order shortly from now.
Supreme Court reserves order over mediation in Ram Mandir Ayodhya case.
Subramanian Swamy, who has filed a writ in the matter, tells the Supreme Court that the Government has the right to give away land to whosoever it wants. Other parties are eligible for a compensation, Swamy says.
5-judge Supreme Court bench appears divided over mediation route to settle the long-pending Ayodhya Ram Mandir dispute. Justice Bobde says the court is considering what is legal and can be binding on everyone.
Will it be possible to bind millions of people to the outcome of mediation, Justice Chandrachud asks senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan.
Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhavan discussing in court the nature of matters which can be decided through the process of mediation.
The Supreme Court expresses that media reporting will be banned on ongoing mediation process.
You are looking at the outcome even before mediation is attempted. This is also about heart and mind and healing of relations, says Justice Bobde when Hindu parties asserted that mediation will be a failure
We understand the gravity of the case. Past cannot be undone. We can only decide what happens in the present, says Justice Bobde
We cannot undo Babar invading etc. We can only look into the current situation, says Justice SA Bobde.
As the proceedings begin, one of the lawyers opposes mediations. He says that even if the parties agree to resolve the issue amicably, people will not agreee to compromise.
Supreme Court has assembled and the hearing into the case has begun. The hearing was slightly delayed as the bar bid farewell to Justice AK Sikri who retires today. The top court is expected to decide whether a court-monitored mediation process can be initiated to resolve the decades-old dispute. This could run parallel to the legal proceedings.
As the Supreme Court hears the Ram Mandir Ayodhya case to decide whether there is any chance of mediation, here's what has happened in the decades-old case so far READ MORE
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had in a report submitted in 2003 suggested that a temple existed at the disputed site. The Babri Masjid was demolished in December 1992.
The Supreme Court to begin hearing in Ram Mandir Ayodhya case is sometime from now.
A fresh twist has emerged in long-pending contentious issue of Ayodhya Ram Mandir dispute. Hindu Mahasabha has said it is not ready for any mediation in the matter.
The politically sensitive Ram Mandir Ayodhya case may be referred for a court-monitored mediation by the Supreme Court, media reports say.
During the last hearing on February 26, while some of the Muslim parties agreed to the court's suggestion on mediation, some Hindu bodies including the Ram Lalla Virajman opposed it, saying several such attempts have failed in the past.
The suggestion for mediation was mooted by Justice Bobde, during the hearing when both the Hindu and the Muslim sides were sparring over the veracity of documents related to the case which were translated by the Uttar Pradesh government and filed with the apex court registry.