Tuesday the Supreme Court started the final hearing of the long standing Babri Masjid dispute. A specially constituted bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Abdul Nazeer will be hearing the case. A total of 13 appeals were filed against the 2010 judgment of the Allahabad High Court in four suits.
The 2010 judgment was ruled out by a 3 Judge Bench comprising of Justice S. U. Khan, Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Justice D. V. Sharma. The judgment stated a three way division of the disputed land. One third to the Sunni Wakf Board, one third to the Nirmohi Akhara and one third to the Ram Lalla group.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, “What is pending in the Supreme Court is title suit, which will be decided purely on evidence and not an aastha (faith.)”
“Sangh Parivar might vitiate the atmosphere on the issue before the 2019 elections to gain political mileage,” he added.
The Vice President of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Kalbe Sadiq said the Muslims should peacefully accept the decision of the Supreme Court even if the verdict goes against the community.
This dispute dates back to the first recorded clash over the Babri Masjid in 1853. The Hindus believed the location of Babri Masjid was where their diety Ram was born. It is stated a group of Hindus sneaked in an idol of Ram inside the Masjid infuriating the Muslims. Following the dispute, the then Government declared the premises a disputed area and locked the gates.
Several Hindus filed suits seeking exclusive rights to offer prayers to Ram Lalla. In 1959, Nirmohi Akhara filed a suit seeking possession of the disputed site. Later in 1961, Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Board of Wakf also filed a suit seeking the same.
In the 1980s, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) started a campaign to reopen the Babri Masjid grounds to build a grand temple. Later on, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led the campaign.
In September 1990, BJP President Advani started a Rath Yatra from Somnath in Gujarat to the Babri Masjid site. The motive of Rath Yatra was to build a temple on the Masjid site.
In 1992, thousands joined at the site to demolish the Babri Masjid. This triggered communal riots across the country. The then Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao vowed to rebuild the Masjid but failed.
The Babri Masjid originally dates back to 1528. A Commander of the Mughal Emperor Babur, Mir Baqi constructed the Babri Masjid. However, a report by the Archaeological Survey of India suggested the existence of a 10th century temple at that site.
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