BREAKINGNEWS: Ayodhya verdict: Trust for building temple for Hindus, alternative land for Muslims for mosque

Inner and outer land should be given to the trust, the court said in the 70-year-old legal dispute. In a unamimous judgement, the Sunni Wakf Board was given 5 acres of alternate land. 

The disputed land now goes effectively in possession of the Indian government.

The Supreme Court verdict was delivered by a five-member Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. The other judges are Justice SA Bobde, Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Abdul Nazeer.

Security has been beefed up across the nation as the Supreme Court verdict was awaited eagerly on the Ram Janma Bhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed for peace and harmony ahead of the judgement.

UNI Photo: Security forces deployed near Hanuman Ghari in Ayodhya on Saturday.

The apex court dismissed the claims of the Shia Waqf Board’ while the Nirmohi Akhara has also suffered a jolt. 

The court said the judgement is based on the basis of Constitution and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and not on based of faith. The court rejected the demoliton of the disputed structure or the Babri Masjid in 1992. 

The court also rejected the event of 1949 when Hindu activists had surreptitiously placed idols of Rama inside the mosque. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted in reaction: "This decision of the Supreme Court is important for several reasons: It shows how important it is to follow the legal process in resolving a dispute. Each side was given enough time and opportunity to present its arguments. The temple of justice resolved the decades-old case amicably."

सुप्रीम कोर्ट का यह फैसला कई वजहों से महत्वपूर्ण है:
यह बताता है कि किसी विवाद को सुलझाने में कानूनी प्रक्रिया का पालन कितना अहम है।
हर पक्ष को अपनी-अपनी दलील रखने के लिए पर्याप्त समय और अवसर दिया गया।
न्याय के मंदिर ने दशकों पुराने मामले का सौहार्दपूर्ण तरीके से समाधान कर दिया।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 9, 2019

Welcoming the verdict, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "I fully believe the historic judgement passed by the Supreme Court will pave the way for the unity. The judgement will lead to India's unity."

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in one of the intital reactions said: "The verdict should be respected and everyone should maintain peace."

Sunni Waqaf Board counsel Zafaryab Jilani in his reaction said: "We respect the judgement but we are not satisfied, We will decide further course of action. We will later decide if we go for review or not. I can say the judgement is not as per our expectation. I appeal all for peace."

After the verdict amid fears of law and order maintenance Collector & DM of Ayodhya Anuj K Jha tweeted: "Congratulations everybody on a peaceful resolution of a longstanding dispute. I will urge everybody to observe restraint in celebrating the verdict. Any inciting or insulting behaviour will be acted against."

UNI adds: The hearing was the case is second-longest in the history of Independent India, after the Keshvananda Bharti case continued for 68 days.

In 2010, Allahabad High Court, in its verdict had divided the disputed 2.77 acres of disputed land in Ayodhya equally among Ram Lala, the Nirmohi Akhra and Sunni Waqf Board.

The case went to the Apex Court after pleas were filed challenging the High Court verdict.

Hindus argued was that the Lord Ram was born exactly where Babri Masjid was built—demolished by the karsevaks in December 1992. They also claimed that the place has a special significance for the Hindus.

The Muslim side argued that they had executive title over the land and sought restoration of property of what it is was prior to December 1992.

The Apex Court said the Muslim parties have not been able to exhibit possessory claim to inner courtyard while the Hindus were able to prove unimpeded possession of the outer courtyard.

Existence of structure before mosque can't alone be basis of title claim, the Top Court said.

On Archaeological Survey of India report, the Apex Court said, "Adequate material in ASI reports conclude the mosque was not built on vacant land, Babri was built on underlying structure which was not Islamic structure.".

Reaction from Congress

Congress has put up a tweet saying, "Today the Supreme Court's judgement has respected the faith & trust of the people..."

It added, "We appeal to all the parties concerned and to all communities to abide by the secular values and spirit of fraternity enshrined in our Constitution and to maintain peace and harmony."