Published 16:40 IST, October 15th 2019
Ayodhya Case hearing to end on October 16, says CJI Ranjan Gogoi
CJI, Ranjan Gogoi, on Tuesday, said that the hearing in the long-disputed Ayodhya case will end on Wednesday, which will be the 40th day of the hearing.
Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi said that the hearing in the Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid land title dispute will end on Wednesday, which will be the 40th day of the hearing. Gogoi, on Tuesday, said, "Today is the 39th day. Tomorrow is the 40th day and last day of hearing in the case." The hearing in the case resumed on October 14, after a week-long Dusshera break.
Mediation attempts fail
The Supreme Court had, in July, asked the mediation panel to submit a final report on the mediation between the two parties, and in case if that fails, the apex court would begin daily hearing of the case. The mediation did not plan out and the Supreme Court thus went ahead with the day-to-day hearing. The hearings started on August 6, 2019, and a five-judge bench presided over the meetings. The five-judge bench included - CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer.
The Apex court has asked for mediation panels to work on a solution on multiple occasions even during the proceedings, but a solution could not be reached between the parties.
'Vital to build temple since it was the birthplace'
On Tuesday, a senior advocate representing the 'Ram Lalla Virajman' said that it was important for the Ram Temple to be built there since Lord Ram was born there and that Muslims could offer their prayers anywhere since there were many mosques around. He said, "Muslims can pray in any other mosque as well. There are 55-60 mosques in Ayodhya alone. But for Hindus, it is the birthplace of Lord Ram, we can't change the birthplace. For Hindus, it is the birthplace. For Muslims, it is a historic mosque. All mosques are equal for Muslims. For us, we can't change birthplace."
Although the hearing is likely to end tomorrow, the judgement on the case will not be delivered tomorrow. The judgement is likely to be given at a later date, which has not been declared by the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will be retiring on November 17th, and the judgement is likely to be pronounced before his retirement.
Updated 22:04 IST, October 15th 2019