Supreme Court reserves order on mediation in Ayodhya land dispute

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its order on whether the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute can be settled through mediation.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi heard the contesting parties.

The bench also comprising Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and SA Nazeer heard submissions from various Hindu and Muslim bodies involved in the matter.

Fourteen appeals have been filed in the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77-acre land in Ayodhya be partitioned equally among the three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for Uttar Pradesh said, "It (mediation) will not be advisable and prudent to take this path."

Senior counsel CS Vaidyanathan, who appeared on behalf of the deity Ram Lala, opposed the mediation and told the court that the birth place of Lord Ram was a matter of faith and belief and they cannot take a contrary view in the mediation.