Centre initiates process of Ayodhya trust formation: MHA sources

Just days after the Supreme Court's verdict on the Ayodhya land dispute, Ministry of Home Affairs has initiated the process of trust formation, as per the sources of MHA. A team of bureaucrats is set up to examine the technicalities of the historic order. As per the sources, legal opinions are being taken from the AG and the Law Ministry. The government is also reportedly contemplating bringing in a Bill for the formation of trust. The Bill might be brought in during the upcoming winter session. According to the sources, a meeting would be called soon to discuss this matter. This process has to be completed within the deadline of three months as mandated by the Supreme Court. 

READ| Owaisi claims party no in favour of five-acre land allotted by SC

The Constitution bench of the Supreme Court in its Ayodhya verdict stated, “The Central Government shall, within a period of three months from the date of this judgment, formulate a scheme pursuant to the powers vested in it under Sections 6 and 7 of the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act 1993. The scheme shall envisage the setting up of a trust with a Board of Trustees or any other appropriate body under Section 6. The scheme to be framed by the Central Government shall make necessary provisions in regard to the functioning of the trust or body including on matters relating to the management of the trust, the powers of the trustees including the construction of a temple and all necessary, incidental and supplemental matters.” 

As the Centre has set the ball rolling for setting up a Supreme Court-mandated trust for construction of a temple at Ramjanmabhoomi site in Ayodhya, right-wing organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad has suggested that Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath be included in it. 

SC Verdict on Ayodhya 

The Supreme Court on Saturday delivered a unanimous judgment in the Ayodhya title suit of the disputed area, awarding it to the Hindu parties for the construction of a temple. It also directed the Centre to come up with a scheme within three months to set up a trust which will hand over the outer courtyard and inner courtyard of the site for construction of a temple.

"Central government shall form in three to four months a scheme for setting up of a trust. They shall make necessary arrangements for the management of trust and construction of the temple," Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said while reading out the verdict. In its order, the Supreme Court also asked the Central or State government to provide an alternate land of 5 acres to the Muslims for the construction of a mosque.

(With PTI inputs)

READ| Ayodhya verdict: 99 arrested, 65 cases filed in UP for objectionable social media posts