New Delhi: The judgement by the five-judge bench of the Supreme Court on the Ayodhya title suit is “unanimous”, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said on Saturday while unsealing the verdict in a packed courtroom.
CJI requested silence in the court, as the judgement was signed.
The Supreme Court, in its verdict, ordered that the disputed land must be given to Hindus, Muslims must be given alternate land. It also ordered the Centre to formulate a scheme within three months.
He said there was need to preserve the sense of balance for the belief of people.
Earlier, the Court said, “It is clearly established that while Muslims offered prayers inside the inner courtyard, the same was done by Hindus in the outer court yard. Prior to 1856-57, there was no exclusion of Hindus from praying there. Exodus of Hindus from the inner courtyard remained contentious too. They continued to worship at Ram Chabutara and they worshipped the Garbh GiRja from the railings.”
Regarding Sri Ram Lalla Virajman’s petition, the Supreme Court says that mere existence of a structure beneath the mosque cannot lead to a title today even if the SC finds that it was a Hindu temple. “There was no cessation of namaz or abandonment of structure by the Muslims,” the SC said. The bench, however, added that documents show that prior to 1857, Hindus were not barred from worshipping in the inner courtyard.
“It is clearly established that while Muslims offered prayers inside the inner courtyard, the same was done by Hindus in the outer court yard. Prior to 1856-57, there was no exclusion of Hindus from praying there…” the court said.
About the proof of possession, the court said that the Muslims Sunni Waqf Board couldn’t establish adverse possession on the disputed site. The disputed site is one composite whole. It added that no namaz was held after 1949.
