The mediation panel in the Ayodhya land case is given time till 15th of August to find solutions and present it to the Supreme Court, the apex court of justice.
The mediation process of the temple-mosque dispute in Ayodhya ought to be carried with ‘utmost confidentiality’ by all the three mediators – a former Supreme Court judge, FM Ibrahim Kalifulla, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and a senior advocate, Sriram Panchu.
A constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Rajan Gogoi said, “The panel wants more time, which we are inclined to give”. He further added, “The mediation panel is optimistic”. The hearing lasted six minutes.
In the previous hearing, the court had referred the decades-old dispute to get into an amicable negotiation and altogether settlement of the case through setting up a panel headed by former Supreme Court judge FM Kalifulla.
The duties and responsibilities of the panel have been set by the court to hold consultations and altogether to explore a potential avenue.The panel was constituted after the court noted “the lack of consensus between the parties in the matter”.
The other members of the mediation panel are quite well-known mediators in the legal circles which are – a senior advocate, Sriram Panchu and a spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The panel is asked to conduct proceedings in-camera and was given eight weeks to speak to all stakeholders.
“It is not only about the property. It is about mind, heart and healing, if possible,” the bench had said in a past hearing. The dispute revolves around the site in Ayodhya where the 16th century Babri Masjid stood before it was razed in 1992 by Hindu activists. The claiming that the land on which it stood belonged to the ancient temple marking the birthplace of Lord Ram.
Following the demolition of the mosque, riots started to rise across the country resulting in killing nearly 2,000 people.
There has fourteen appeals filed in the top court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court Judgement, delivered in four civil suits. The 2.77 acres disputed land in Ayodhya should be partitioned equally among three parties – the Sunni Waqf Board, Ram Lalla (Infant Ram) and the Nirmohi Akhara.
