Published 08:59 IST, November 8th 2019
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 CJI Ranjan Gogoi is slated to meet top officers in UP
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.
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.
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.
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.
Updated 13:50 IST, November 8th 2019