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Historic verdict of supreme court on Shri Ram Janmabhumi case in Ayodhya
COURT SAYS, “LORD RAM WAS BORN AT THE SITE WAS UNDISPUTED AND HE IS OWNER OF THE LAND”
Settling a fractious issue that goes back to more than centuries, the highest Court of the country in a historic verdict on 09 November, 2019 backed the construction of a Shri Ram temple by a trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya, and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be provided by the Central government for a mosque in the limits of the holy town of Ayodhya.
Delivering a unanimous judgement on a case that has long polarized the country, a five-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said, ‘The faith of Hindus that Lord Ram was born at the site was undisputed, and he is symbolically the owner of the land’.
The judgement treated the case as a title dispute over land between three parties — the Sunni Muslim Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara, a Hindu group, and the symbolic Lord Rama designated as Ram Lalla Virajman.
“The dispute is over immovable property. The court does not decide title on the basis of faith or belief but on the basis of evidence,” the judgement, delivered at the end of a marathon 40-day hearing– the second longest in the history of apex court said.
The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and comprised justices SA Bobde, Ashok Bhushan, DY Chandrachud and S Abdul Nazeer unanimously concluded that, “The faith of the Hindus that Lord Ram was born at the demolished structure is undisputed”.
The verdict in the Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case, one of the most significant judgements in India’s history, runs into 1,045 pages.
The judgement was widely welcomed by all sections of people, politicians, Hindu & Muslim religious groups and leaders. All political and religious leaders called for peace and calm, and leaders across the political spectrum noted that it was now time to move on.
“Whether it is devotion to Ram or Rahim, now is time for everybody to strengthen devotion to India,” Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said in a tweet.
Home Minister and BJP National President Shri Amit Shah appealed to all communities to accept the verdict and maintain peace and remain committed for ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ while Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh urged everyone to take the verdict with equanimity and magnanimity.
The Congress said it respects the verdict and is in favour of construction of Shri Ram temple.
The dispute over the site of Shri Ram Janmabhumi in Ayodhya where Mughal Emperor Babar is said to have built a three-domed mosque by razing the existing Shri Ram temple in 1528-29 was the main cause behind all the controversy. However, it turned into a legal dispute in 1885 when a Mahant went to court seeking permission to build a canopy outside the mosque for daily puja. The plea was dismissed.
In December 1949, Sant Digvijay Nath of Gorakhnath Math joined the Akhil Bharatiya Ramayana Mahasabha and organised a 9-day continuous recitation of the Ramcharit Manas, at the end of which Hindu activists placed the idols of Lord Ram and Sita inside the central dome of the mosque. The structure was destroyed by uncontrolled large gathering of kar Sevaks on December 6, 1992.
The court judgement said “The Constitution must ensure that a wrong committed must be remedied”. As part of remedy for that wrong, the court asked the government to allot a five-acre plot in a prominent location in the holy town of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh for constructing a new mosque.
The disputed 2.77-acre plot will for now remain with a Central government receiver, who will hand it over to a government-created trust that must be created within three months. The trust will be tasked with the construction of the temple.
The judgement said, “On the balance of probabilities, there is clear evidence to indicate that the worship by the Hindus in the outer courtyard” has continued unimpeded even before 1857 when the British annexed Oudh region. “The Muslims have offered no evidence to indicate that they were in exclusive possession” of the mosque before 1857, it said.
The verdict was pronounced on 14 appeals 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’.
The bench said the high court wrongly decided the title suit by resorting to partitioning of the disputed land in three parts. “The disputed site was government land in the revenue records,” the court said adding,” The fact that there is a temple beneath the destroyed structure has been established by the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) and the underlying structure was not an Islamic structure.”
A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi finished the hearing in the long-standing dispute on October 16 and said he would deliver the verdict before he retires on November 17. On November 8, it was announced that the verdict will be delivered a day later at 10:30 AM.
RSS Sarsanghchalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat, said the building of a Ram temple is a long-held objective but the verdict should not be seen as anybody’s victory or defeat.
C S Vaidyanathan, lawyer for deity ‘Ram Lalla’, said the verdict is very balanced and it is a victory of people. The Nirmohi Akhara said it has no “regrets” regarding the verdict.
Prominent Muslim leaders also welcomed the decision and appealed for peace and harmony.
UP fully committed to maintain an atmosphere of peace, security and harmony
UP CM Shri Yogi Adityanath Thanking the Supreme Court for giving its verdict on the world’s oldest dispute said, “People around the world have accepted this verdict. This is commendable and respectable. I want to thank media for putting the whole issue is a positive note. This decision is giving a larger message. This is for ‘Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’. This is the power of 136 crore Indians. This verdict is given by all of the judges unanimously. This shows the belief in each other and it shows we can take strong decisions in extreme conditions.”
“I have always noticed how Ayodhya was ignored. It is like a vanvaas to Lord Ram. Now Ayodhya shall be known in a new light and with a new glory”.
He said all should cooperate in maintaining the unity and harmony of the country. The Government of Uttar Pradesh is fully committed to maintain an atmosphere of peace, security and harmony.
‘Temple Of Justice’ Has Resolved Decades Old Dispute Amicably’: PM Modi
The Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya will strengthen people’s faith in judicial processes, said Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 09 November, 2019 and appealing for peace and harmony.
The Prime Minister reiterated his statement that the verdict “should not be seen as anybody’s win or loss”. “The ‘temple of justice’ has resolved decades old dispute amicably,” Shri Modi said.
“The Honourable Supreme Court has given its verdict on the Ayodhya issue. This verdict shouldn’t be seen as a win or loss for anybody. Be it Ram Bhakti or Rahim Bhakti, it is imperative that we strengthen the spirit of Rashtra Bhakti. May peace and harmony prevail!,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
“Peace maintained by 130 crore Indians manifests commitment to peaceful coexistence”
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi appreciated the calm and peace maintained by people following Supreme Court’s verdict in the Ayodhya dispute. “The calm and peace maintained by 130 crore Indians in the run-up to today’s verdict manifests India’s inherent commitment to peaceful coexistence. May this very spirit of unity and togetherness power the development trajectory of our nation. May every Indian be empowered,” he wrote on the micro blogging site Twitter.
Just after the verdict, PM Shri Modi had asked people to strengthen the spirit of ‘Rashtra Bhakti’ and maintain peace and harmony.
Narendra Modi @narendramodi
The calm and peace maintained by 130 crore Indians in the run-up to today’s verdict manifests India’s inherent commitment to peaceful coexistence. May this very spirit of unity and togetherness power the development trajectory of our nation. May every Indian be empowered…
Narendra Modi @narendramodi
The Honourable Supreme Court has given its verdict on the Ayodhya issue. This verdict shouldn’t be seen as a win or loss for anybody. Be it Ram Bhakti or Rahim Bhakti, it is imperative that we strengthen the spirit of Rashtra Bhakti. May peace and harmony prevail!
A moment of fulfilment for me: L.K Advani
Commenting on the historic judgment former Deputy Prime Minister Shri Lal Krishna Advani stated:
“I join all my countrymen in wholeheartedly welcoming the historic judgement delivered by the five-member Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya matter.
I stand vindicated, and feel deeply blessed, that the Supreme Court has given its unanimous verdict paving the way for the construction of a magnificent temple for Lord Ram at Ramjanmabhoomi in Ayodhya.
This is a moment of fulfilment for me because God Almighty had given me an opportunity to make my own humble contribution to the mass movement, the biggest since India’s Freedom Movement, aimed at the outcome which the Supreme Court’s verdict today has made possible.
I have always stressed that Ram and Ramayana occupy an esteemed place in India’s cultural and civilizational heritage and Ramjanmabhoomi holds a special and sacred place in the hearts of crores of our countrymen in India and abroad. Therefore, it is gratifying that their belief and sentiments have been respected.
I also welcome the apex court’s decision that five acres of land be given at a prominent place for the building of a mosque in Ayodhya.
Today’s judgement is the culmination of a long and contentious process that played itself out in various forums – both judicial and non-judicial – in the past many decades. Now that the prolonged Mandir-Masjid dispute in Ayodhya has come to an end, the time has come to leave all contention and acrimony behind and embrace communal concord and peace. Towards this end, I appeal to all sections of our diverse society to work together to strengthen India’s national unity and integrity.
In the course of the Ramjanmabhoomi Movement, I had often stated that the true purpose of constructing a Ram Mandir at Ayodhya is to construct a magnificent Rashtra Mandir – building India as a strong, prosperous, peaceful and harmonious nation with justice for all and exclusion of none. Let us rededicate ourselves to that noble mission today.”
Decision will further strengthen India’s unity, integrity and great culture: Amit Shah
Home Minister and BJP National President Shri Amit Shah on 09 November, 2019 welcomed the Supreme Court judgement on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit, saying the order will prove to be a milestone and further strengthen India’s unity and integrity.
In a series of tweets, Shri Amit Shah appealed to all communities and religions to accept the decision of the apex court with ease and remain committed to ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat’ (one India, great India).
“I welcome the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. I appeal to people of all communities and religions to accept this decision with ease and remain committed to our resolve of ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat’, full of peace and harmony.
“I am confident that this landmark judgement given by the Supreme Court will prove to be a milestone in itself. This decision will further strengthen India’s unity, integrity and great culture,” he said.
Shri Amit Shah said the legal dispute over the site at Ayodhya has been going on for decades and the apex court has finalized with this decision now. “I congratulate the justice system of India and all the justices,” he said.
I express my gratitude to all the organisations, Sant Samaj of the entire country and countless unknown people who have tried it for so many years,” Shri Shah said.
Judgement an example of all inclusive views representing all sections of the society: JP Nadda
In a Press Release by BJP National Working President Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda the Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the landmark and unanimous decision of the Supreme Court of India in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi case.
The release said, “The details of the Judgement is an example of all inclusive views representing all sections of the society. We welcome the historic judgement. It has not only solved all the issues related to it, but it is also going to give further strength to our great tradition of peace, unity and goodwill”.
The BJP welcomes and thanks the Hon’ble Supreme Court, Hon’ble Judges and especially the bench headed by the Chief Justice of India for this decisive and time-bound decision, which ensured the daily hearing and resolved the matter pending for decades. The Bharatiya Janata Party welcomes and salutes the people of the country who have united and kept the social, cultural and spiritual fabric of the country intact.
The Bharatiya Janata Party appeals to the countrymen to welcome the decision wholeheartedly and set an example to save the invaluable legacy of equality, social harmony and peace without paying any attention to rumors. This decision has given a clear message that we are united and the roots of democracy in India are very strong.
As our Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has said that keeping the dignity of the judiciary of the country paramount, all sides of the society, socio-cultural organizations all the parties related to this case have welcomed and teken commendable steps to create a peaceful and positive atmosphere in the past. Even after this decision of the court, we all have to maintain harmony together.
The Bharatiya Janata Party welcomes & expresses the belief that this decision will end all disputes related to this matter and India will continue to grow stronger on the principles of unity alongwith its cultural heritage.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has always been committed to the construction of the Ram temple. From Palampur resolution till date, BJP has played a positive role on this issue and performed all its responsibilities. It is a matter of great satisfaction for us that Lord Rama’s temple issue has been resolved during the NDA government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Whenever the history of the country will be re-written, this tenure of the Bharatiya Janata Party government at the center will be written in golden letters. We welcome this historic judgement.
Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi
The trust that will be responsible for the construction of a Ram temple would have to be considerate about keeping people united.
“I welcome the verdict. But the trust that will look after the construction of the Ram temple will have to be considerate about keeping intact unity among people”.