Can’t undo what Babur did: SC reserves order on Ayodhya land dispute

New Delhi: A five-judge Constitution Bench on Wednesday reserved its order on sending the contentious Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid Ayodhya title dispute case for mediation even as the Hindu parties including the state of Uttar Pradesh opposed the court’s suggestion.

The five-judge Constitution Bench comprised Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.

Gogoi reserved the order on the matter said, “We intend to pass the order soon.”

“It is not only about the property. It is about mind, heart and healing, if possible,” said Ranjan Gogoi which reserved its decision on referring the case to a court-appointed mediator.

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Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Uttar Pradesh said, “It (mediation) will not be advisable and prudent to take this path.”

Justice SA Bobde, one of the five senior judges hearing the case, said: “Don’t tell us about history, we also know history. We have no control over the past… We cannot undo who invaded, what Babar may have done, who was king at the time, whether there was a mosque or temple. It’s about sentiments, about religion and about faith. We are conscious of the gravity of the dispute.”

Senior counsel C.S. Vaidyanathan, who appeared on behalf of the deity Ram Lala, opposed the mediation and told the court that the birthplace of Lord Ram was a matter of faith and belief and they cannot take a contrary view in the mediation.

[source_without_link]IANS inputs[/source_without_link]