Chances of the SC giving a final verdict in Nov. in the 70-year-old litigation for ownership of the 2.77 acre Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land in Ayodhya brightened as all Hindu parties, who were awarded 2-3rd of the disputed land by the Allahabad HC, have completed their arguments. The hearing had started on Aug 6.
Giving a patient hearing to counsel but not allowing them to repeat or reiterate each other’s arguments, a bench of Chief Justice (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi & Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan & S Abdul Nazeer appeared to have achieved the unimaginable — completion of arguments on behalf of deity Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara, All India Ram Janmasthan Punaruthan Samiti, 2 factions of Hindu Mahasabha, Shia Waqf Board (SWB) & legal heir of Gopal Singh Visharad, who had 1st instituted a suit in 1951 after idols were installed inside Babri Masjid in Dec 1949.
The Allahabad HC had divided the 2.77 acre disputed land equally among 3 parties, with 1-3rd going to deity Ram Lalla under the central dome of the mosque prior to its demolition in 1992, another 3rd comprising the Ram Chabutra & Sita Rasoi to Nirmohi Akhara & the last 3rd to Sunni Waqf Board.
With arguments on behalf of deity Ram Lalla & Nirmohi Akhara getting over on Day 16 of the proceedings, the main party left to advance arguments is Sunni Waqf Board represented by senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, who had protested against the 5-days-a-week hearing schedule fixed by the SC.
With many in the court corridors wondering whether the bench would be able to conclude proceedings & deliver a judgment before the retirement of Chief Justice (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi on Nov 17, the completion of arguments by parties awarded 2-3rd of the disputed land brightens the chances of the court delivering the final verdict in Nov.
