The dispute site in Ayodhya has been allotted to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas by a five-jude Constitution bench of the Supreme Court. In one of the most important and most anticipated judgements in India’s history, CJI Ranjan Gogoi-led SC bench has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land to Sunni Waqf Board for mosque within Ayodhya.
As per the court order, the Central government is to formulate a scheme under Ayodhya Act 1993 within 3 months and set up a trust and hand over the disputed site to it for construction of temple at the site and a suitable alternative plot of land measuring 5 acres at Ayodhya will be given to Sunni Wakf Board.
Scheme to be framed by Center to make provisions for working of trust including the construction of the temple and other matters, the court said in its judgment.
The SC has dismised the suit filed by Nirmohi Akhara seeking control of entire disputed land. However, the court has asked the Centre to consider granting some kind of representation to Nirmohi Akhara in setting up of trust.
The bench, also comprising Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer, said possession of the disputed 2.77 acre land rights will handed over to the deity Ram Lalla, who is one of the three litigants in the case. The possession however will remain with a central government receiver.
The Supreme Court said the Hindus have established their case that they were in possession of outer courtyard and the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board has failed to establish its case in the Ayodhya dispute.
The apex court said the extensive nature of Hindus worshipping at outer courtyard at the disputed site has been there, and the evidence suggests the Muslims offered Friday prayers at mosque which indicates that they had not lost possession of the site.
It said that despite obstruction caused in offering prayers at Mosque, the evidences suggest that there was no abandonment in offering prayers.
The apex court further said said that the underlying structure below the disputed site at Ayodhya was not an Islamic structure, but the ASI has not established whether a temple was demolished to build a mosque.
It said that terming the archeological evidence as merely an opinion would be a great disservice to the Archaeological Survey of India.
The court also said that the Hindus consider the disputed site as the birthplace of Lord Ram and even Muslims say this about that place.
The faith of the Hindus that Lord Ram was born at the demolished structure is undisputed, the apex court said.
The bench said the existence of Sita Rasoi, Ram Chabutra and Bhandar grih are the testimony of the religious fact of the place.
The apex court said however that the title cannot be established on the ground of faith and belief and they are only indicators for deciding the dispute.