RAM JANMABHOOMI-BABRI MASJID DISPUTE

Ayodhya parties want talks to resume

The Ayodhya mediation committee yesterday filed a short memorandum informing the Supreme Court that parties across the Hindu-Muslim religious divide have approached it with a request to resume talks to amicably resolve the over 70-year-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute.

The memorandum said the parties have suggested that the mediation could continue even as the Supreme Court continues to hear the Ayodhya dispute appeals.

A source confirmed that both the Sunni Waqf Board and the Nirvani Akhara have expressed willingness to continue with talks to amicably resolve the over 70-year-old title dispute between Hindu and Muslim factions.

The parties have suggested to the mediators — former Supreme Court judge F.M.I. Kalifulla, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu — that talks should resume from the point where it was abruptly dropped off at the last minute on July 29, due to resistance from certain blocks across the religious divide, causing heartburn among some other stakeholders.

The Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, hearing the Ayodhya appeals, had announced the failure to reach a final settlement in a court hearing on August 2. Adjudication of the pending appeals, which were kept in limbo due to the mediation, commenced from August 6. Over 20 court hearings are already over by now. The appeals have been heard on a daily basis by the five-judge Bench. The Sunni Waqf Board was arguing its case in court.

The mediation effort was initiated by a Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on March 8 in a bid to heal minds and hearts. The Bench had explained that the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case was “not about the 1500 sq ft of disputed land, but about religious sentiments”.

 

RAM JANMABHOOMI-BABRI MASJID DISPUTE

Ayodhya parties want talks to resume

The Ayodhya mediation committee yesterday filed a short memorandum informing the Supreme Court that parties across the Hindu-Muslim religious divide have approached it with a request to resume talks to amicably resolve the over 70-year-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute. The memorandum said the parties have suggested that the mediation could continue even as the Supreme Court continues to hear the Ayodhya dispute appeals. A source confirmed that both the Sunni Waqf Board and the Nirvani Akhara have expressed willingness to continue with talks to amicably resolve the over 70-year-old title dispute between Hindu and Muslim factions. The parties have suggested to the mediators former Supreme Court judge F.M.I. Kalifulla, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu that talks should resume from the point where it was abruptly dropped off at the last minute on July 29, due to resistance from certain blocks across the religious divide, causing heartburn among some other stakeholders. The Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, hearing the Ayodhya appeals, had announced the failure to reach a final settlement in a court hearing on August 2. Adjudication of the pending appeals, which were kept in limbo due to the mediation, commenced from August 6. Over 20 court hearings are already over by now. The appeals have been heard on a daily basis by the five-judge Bench. The Sunni Waqf Board was arguing its case in court. The mediation effort was initiated by a Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on March 8 in a bid to heal minds and hearts. The Bench had explained that the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case was not about the 1500 sq ft of disputed land, but about religious sentiments.