Ayodhya verdict to impact future generations, shape India’s polity: Muslim parties to SC

The verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case will impact "future generations" and have "consequences" for the country's polity, the Muslim parties, including the Sunni Wakf Board, said in a written note to the Supreme Court which allowed them to file it before it on Monday.

A counsel for the Muslim parties submitted before a 3-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, that they be allowed to bring their written note on moulding of relief on record for the perusal of the 5-judge Constitution bench which had heard the case.

The Constitution bench had reserved the verdict on October 16 after concluding the 40-day-long hearing in the politically sensitive Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri masjid land dispute case in Ayodhya.

The Sunni Wakf Board and legal heirs of original Muslim litigants, M Siddiq and Mohammad Hashim, told the bench that they had filed the written note in a sealed cover as per the directions of the apex court, but the apex court's registry refused to take it on record saying it has not been served to the other rival parties.

Nirmohi Akahara, devotee Gopal Singh Visharad and deity 'Ram Lalla' through next friend Deoki Nandan Agrawal had filed separate lawsuits in 1959, 1950 and 1989 respectively in the Ayodhya land dispute.

"We have now served our written note to all the parties on Sunday," the lawyer said on Monday and asked the bench to direct its registry to take their note on record.

"It (written note) is on my table in a sealed cover. But, the contents are on ...(a English daily) the front page. Let it be there only," said the bench, which also comprised Justices S A Bobde and S A Nazeer.

The bench however allowed the Muslim parties to file their written note on moulding of reliefs -- narrowing down the issues raised during the hearing in the -- with the apex court's registry.

The Muslim parties later issued the note for the rival litigants and the common public.

"The decision by this court, whichever way it goes, will impact future generations. It will also have consequences for the polity of this country. This court's decision may impact the minds of millions who are citizens of this country and who believe in constitutional values embraced by all when India was declared a republic on January 26, 1950," said the note prepared by senior lawyer Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for the Muslim parties.

It said since the judgement will have far reaching implications, it is for the court to consider the consequences of its historic judgement by moulding the relief in a fashion that will reflect the Constitutional values that this great nation espouses.

"We hope that the Court, in moulding the relief, upholds our multi-religious and multi-cultural values in resolving the issues confronting it. Moulding the relief is the responsibility of this Court, which itself is the sentinel of our Constitution. When moulding the relief, this Court must also consider how future generations will view this verdict," it said.

On Saturday, the Hindu and Muslims parties had filed their written submissions in the Supreme Court with the counsel for the deity 'Ram Lalla' asserting that Hindus have been worshipping at the disputed area "since time immemorial" and the birthplace of the Lord Ram is "non-negotiable".

The top court had asked the litigating parties including the deity Ram Lalla (represented by next friend Agrawal) and the UP Sunni Central Wakf Board to submit their written note within three days.

The parties were asked to give their views on "moulding of reliefs" so that the apex court can narrow down the issues needed to be adjudicated upon in the vexatious issue.

"That the extent of the suit property is 1480 sq. yards and the petitioner and other Hindus worship in the suit property as deity from time immemorial and proved as believed as birth place of Sri Ram from time immemorial and the birth place of Sri Ram is non-negotiable," said the written note filed by senior lawyer C S Vaidyanathan on behalf of the deity and the birthplace.

Besides the deity, other Hindu parties -- Nirmohi Akhara, All India Hindu Mahasabha and devotee Visharad -- had filed their written notes on Saturday in this case.

The high voltage hearing in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute involving 2.77 acres of land is the second longest after the landmark Keshvanand Bharti case in 1973 during which the proceedings for propounding the doctrine of basic structure of the Constitution continued for 68 days.

The hearing on the validity of Aadhaar scheme lasted for 38 days in the top court which came into existence in 1950.