NEW DELHI: Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, who represented the Sunni Waqf Board and other Muslim parties in the Ayodhya title dispute case claimed that he was sacked from the case.
He gave the information about his sacking in a Facebook post published early Tuesday morning.
“Just been sacked from the Babri case by AOR Ejaz Maqbool who was representing the Jamiat. Have sent formal letter accepting the ‘sacking’ without demur. No longer involved in the review or the case,” Dhawan wrote in a Facebook post.
Elaborating on the reason for his removal from the case, the advocate wrote:
“I have been informed that Mr Madani has indicated that I was removed from the case because I was unwell. This is total nonsense. He has a right to instruct his lawyer AOR Ejaz Maqbool to sack me which he did on instructions. But the reason being floated is malicious and untrue,” he said.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind on Monday filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against its verdict in Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case.
Dhavan’s letter
In the long letter to Advocate on Record Ejaz Maqbool, Dhavan went on to elaborate the chain of events. The tone of the letter was visibly of surprise.
AIMPLB to continue with Dhavan
While the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind sacked senior counsel, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has decided to continue with Dhavan as their counsel.
Board secretary Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said on Tuesday that they will continue to fight the case for the board and will file review petition on behalf of individual litigants.
“Rajeev Dhavan has always been a symbol of unity and justice. AIMPLB will continue its efforts under his esteemed leadership and guidance,” the Maulana said.
He further said that the Board was indebted to the senior lawyer for his ‘sincere, exceptional and incomparable efforts in the Babri case.’
NALSAR VC shocks over Dhavan’s post
Faizan Mustafa, Vice–Chancellor of NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad expressed shocked over Dhavan’s post.
“Shocked to read Dr Dhawan’s post. A jurist of his stature and credentials deserves respect and not sacking. Cases are won and lost but we never blame lawyers. He had done a remarkable job. The whole nation has great admiration for Dr. Dhawan.”
Dhavan had forcefully argued the case for the Muslim side before a five-judge bench headed by then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. He had argued for more than two weeks in the 40-day hearing of the matter.
On November 9, the apex court had awarded the disputed land to the deity Ram Lalla and asked the Centre and the state government to give the Sunni Waqf Board a five-acre plot in Ayodhya to build a mosque.