Contending that if there was once a temple on the Ram Janmabhoomi and people were worshipping there as the birthplace, then nobody could possibly claim ownership by adverse possession, Vaidyanathan said the Ayodhya deity was a perpetual minor.
New Delhi: On the 10th day of the Ayodhya title dispute hearing on Thursday, the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took up two important aspects of the case — affidavits filed by Muslims in 1950 claiming mosque was constructed after demolishing a temple, and the stance of the Nirmohi Akhara on its title.
The counsel for the deity opposed the claim of Hindu body Nirmohi Akhara, which was granted one-third of the disputed land by the Allahabad High Court saying: “Under the law, an idol is always considered as a perpetual minor and its ‘Shabait’ (devotee) or trustee cannot alienate or claim right over the property on the ground of adverse possession as against their own deity,” India Today reported.
Contending that if there was once a temple on the Ram Janmabhoomi and people were worshipping there as the birthplace, then nobody could possibly claim ownership by adverse possession, Vaidyanathan said the Ayodhya deity was a perpetual minor. He added that the property of a minor cannot be dealt with, sold or alienated. According to the Hindu, the lawyer questioned how the Allahabad High Court, in its verdict in September 2010, could have handed over the property of the minor Ayodhya deity to others.
Advocate Ranjit Kumar, representing plaintiff Gopal Singh in
the original civil suit, began the argument urging the apex court to accept
affidavits filed in 1950 by some Muslims in Faizabad and Ayodhya, claiming the
mosque was constructed after demolishing a temple.
Kumar relied on the exhibits, which were produced by his client in the trial
court under Section 145 CrPC proceedings. Under this, the Executive Magistrate
can ask the parties concerned in dispute to attend his court in person or by
pleader, on a specified date and time, and to put in written statements of
their respective claims with respect to actual possession of the subject of
dispute.
Kumar said the affidavits were brought on record by his client’s father, and
then relied on an affidavit filed by one Abdul Ghani. According to Ghani,
mosque was built by demolishing the Ram temple, but the Hindus didn’t give up
possession and continued to worship.
Kumar cited more similar affidavits by Muslims under Section 145 proceedings.
When the court asked whether they were ever cross-examined to establish the
veracity of the affidavit’s contents, Kumar responded in negative and said they
had come forward on their own and recorded the statements. Therefore, it was
possible to draw out an inference, he added.
“I’m not saying their statements should be taken as gospel truth. But
nobody has objected to what they said”, argued Kumar.
The Bench remarked, no court could say facts of these affidavits, filed before
a Magistrate, were proved. Had they been filed in a high court, it would have
been different, it said.
Post-lunch, the court took up the Nirmohi Akhara’s stance on its title. If you
claimed to be shebait, a person who serves the deity, could you give up your
claim on the one-third part as per the Allahabad High Court judgement, the
Bench asked the Nirmohi Akhara’s counsel.
Fourteen appeals have been filed in the top court challenging the 2010
Allahabad High Court judgment, delivered in four civil suits. According to the
judgement, the 2.77-acre land in Ayodhya was equally partitioned among the
three parties — the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
Sushil Jain, appearing for the Nirmohi Akhara, submitted as shebait the Akhara
had the rightful possession over the inner and outer courtyard of the temple at
the disputed site and no namaz had been offered there since 1934. “I have
the right as a shebait and I have been looking after the property from the
beginning. Nobody has taken exception to my plea on shebait rights”,
argued Jain. Jain also presented documentary evidence to this effect.
Opposing the argument, advocate K Parasaran said shebait was a protector of the
temple.
Jain said, the Ram Lalla’s idol was under the management of the Akhara.
“Temple is important, pooja is done by pujaris appointed by the Akhara,
which is not a single person. It’s a panchayat. A shebait is directly connected
to the management of the deity”, submitted Jain.
When the Bench contested this line of argument saying, “You are denying
the juridical character of the deity (which is subject to law),” Jain
said, “I am claiming my shebait rights.”
When the court observed the statement was contrary to his claim saying,
“Are you trying to imply that Janmasthan or birthplace is not a juridical
person, subject to law,” Jain said the deity was juridical and he never
denied that.
Making an observation the Bench said the Jain’s argument apparently appeared
incoherent. On this Jain said only one person, identified as Umesh Chand
Pandey, had challenged his client’s shebait right, but he never appeared as a
witness nor was cross-examined.
“Is there a contradiction in the stance taken by them earlier in the high
court and now? CJI Gogoi asked Jain to respond.
The hearing will continue on Friday.