CJI Ranjan Gogoi meets top UP officials ahead of Ayodhya verdict

Ahead of the verdict of politically sensitive Ayodhya land dispute case, sources on Friday informed that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi is slated to meet top officers in Uttar Pradesh at noon. Sources said that the meeting is pertaining to maintenance of law and order situation after the apex court announces the verdict. Sources also said that the CJI wants to ascertain state's security preparedness ahead of the verdict and will be meeting UP Chief Secretary and Director General of Police.

Security beefed up before verdict

Various security measures are being taken ahead of the crucial Ayodhya verdict. In Ayodhya, the District Magistrate prohibited messages regarding the case on social media and posters that could disturb communal harmony. Earlier, various Muslim groups also urged everyone to maintain peace after the verdict. On Tuesday, RSS leaders and Muslim clerics met at the residence of Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and urged all to respect SC's verdict. Additionally, the railway police on Thursday issued a seven-page advisory to all its zones giving them a slew of instructions on security preparedness.

READ: Ayodhya verdict: DM prohibits messages & posters about land dispute

Supreme Court reserves verdict

The Supreme Court on October 16, reserved the verdict Ram Janmabhoomi- Babri Masjid land dispute case. The bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, and comprising of SC judges Justices S.A. Bopde, D.Y. Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan, S. Abdul Nazeer reserved the verdict. The court reserved the verdict after marathon day-to-day hearing in the case.

READ: Ayodhya verdict: Spiritual leader urges to maintain restraint

Mediation panel formed to solve dispute

The apex court had earlier this year formed a mediation panel to solve the age-old dispute. The panel consisted of Justice FMI Kalifulla, Senior advocate Sriram Panchu, and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The panel was made for 8-week and Uttar Pradesh's Faizabad was set as the location where the mediation would be held. The eight-week deadline for the mediation talks were completed on May 3. However, the deadline was extended and the apex court on July 18 asked the mediation committee to continue the process and submit a report on the progress till July 31.

READ: Ayodhya verdict: Muslim groups say SC's decision should be respected

Mediation panel failed, day-to-day hearing began

On August 2, CJI Ranjan Gogoi declared that the Ayodhya mediation panel failed to come to a settlement. He declared that day-to-day hearings would start from August 6. Even after repeated appeals from both parties against day-to-day hearing, the apex court continued the process. 

READ | Before Ayodhya verdict, RSS & Muslim clerics meet at Naqvi's residence