Ayodhya Case: SC affirms day-to-day hearings, CJI says Rajeev Dhawan 'can take a mid-week break'

As Muslim group objected to five-day a week hearing, Supreme Court on Friday rejected the plea and said that day-to day-hearing will continue. A Muslim party on Friday opposed in the Supreme Court five-day a week hearing of the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case in Ayodhya. On senior advocate's claim that 'it is torture', the CJI said that Rajeev Dhawan can take a mid week break if he so wishes.

As bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi Friday commenced hearing on the fourth consecutive day,  Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for the Muslim party, raised objection to the five days hearing of the matter. "It is not possible to assist the court if it is heard on all days of the week. This is the first appeal and the hearing cannot be rushed in this manner and I am put to torture," Dhavan told the bench, also comprising justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer.

READ: Ayodhya Case: Days after SC's daily hearings begin, Muslim groups tell CJI 'it's not possible, don't rush'

The bench has however not taken its decision till now and replied to Dhavan, saying it has noted his submissions and will revert as soon as possible. After the mediation failed in the case, the Bench said its order, that hearing will be on day-to-day basis. Breaking with the tradition, the apex court decided to hear the sensitive case on Friday which is kept fresh cases only, along with Monday. As per the apex court's procedures, on Mondays and Fridays, the registry lists before the benches fresh and miscellaneous cases after notice cases.

As the counsel for deity 'Ram Lalla Virajmaan' started advancing its submissions before a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Dhavan got up and interjected the proceedings. "It is not possible to assist the court if it is heard on all days of the week. This is the first appeal and the hearing cannot be rushed in this manner and I am put to torture," he told the bench, also comprising Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer.

He said the apex court was hearing first appeals after the Allahabad High Court delivered the verdict in the case and the hearing as such cannot be rushed through. Being a first appeal, documentary evidences have to be studied. Many documents are in Urdu and Sanskrit, which have to be translated, Dhavan said. The senior lawyer alleged that "perhaps, except Justice Chandrachud, other judges might not have read the judgment (Allahabad High Court's)".

He said that if the court has taken a decision to hear the case on all five days of the week then he might have to leave the case. "We have taken note of your submissions. We will revert back to you soon," CJI Gogoi said and proceeded with the hearing. The bench has now started hearing the submissions of senior advocate K Parasaran on behalf of deity Ram Lalla Virajmaan. 

READ: Ayodhya case: Supreme Court asks how birth place can be made party to land dispute