NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday told all parties in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute case that they know the dispute is not an issue of land alone but one of sentiment and faith.
“It is not only about the property. It is about mind, heart and healing, if possible,” said a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, which reserved its decision on referring the case to a court-appointed mediator.
During the hearing, the judges observed it cannot undo what Mughal emperor Babur did centuries ago and that it is more concerned about the current situation.
Justice S A Bobde, who was part of the five-judge constitution bench, said, “We also know history. We all have read history. We are trying to tell that we have no control over what happened in the past. We have no control over Babar invading or who demolished what. We cannot undo that. We are conscious of the body politic of this country. It is going to have an impact...”
Justice Bobde added the outcome doesn’t have to be a consideration when a court orders mediation.
The mediators proposed by Nirmohi Akhara are Justice Kurian Joseph, Justice A K Patnaik and Justice G S Singhvi. The Hindu Mahasabha proposed the names of Justice J S Khehar, Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A K Patnaik.
For and against
Sunni Waqf Board and Nirmohi Akhara agreed to mediation while the third litigant, Ram Lala Virajman, opposed it. The UP govt also said no to mediation