Ayodhya Dispute: Day-to-Day Hearing Starts

The daily hearing of the appeals against the verdict of the Allahabad High Court of September 2010 in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case has started in the Supreme Court from Tuesday before a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.

Nirmohi Akhara, one of the parties to whom the HighCourt have a third of the disputed land, in its opening remarks sought controlof the entire 2.77 acres on the grounds that Muslims had stopped offering Namazinside the complex in 1934 after which only Hindus have offered prayers there.

Lawyer for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologueKN Govindacharya mentioned that the application seeks video recording and livestreaming of the proceedings before the counsel of Nirmohi Akhara opened hisarguments. The bench rejected his prayer saying it was not feasible now.

Senior advocate Sushil Jain who represented the Akharasubmitted that there was no dispute regarding the outer courtyard till theSunni Wakf Board filed a suit in 1961. He said that the Akhara was notdemanding ownership but possession of his client.