Ayodhya dispute: SC grants 3 months for translation of historical texts, further hearing on 5 December

In an attempt to find an amicable solution to the protracted Ayodhya dispute, a three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Mishra heard the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute on Friday. It has set the date for further hearing as 5 December.

Ayodhya Matter: Supreme Court fixed the matter for further hearing till December 5

— ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2017

Seven years after the Allahabad High Court said in a ruling that the disputed land be divided into three parts – one-third to Ram Lalla, one-third to the Islamic Waqf board and the remaining to the Nirmohi Akhara. The Chief Justice of India JS Khehar on 21 July agreed to take an early decision after a number of people, including BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, challenged the high court’s order. [caption id=“attachment_3907001” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of the Supreme Court. AFP[/caption] On Friday, the apex court rejected Swamy’s plea as a petitioner in the case. He had requested the court for an “intervening opportunity” to get heard. The court says it will give him the opportunity after all parties are heard. The Supreme Court was informed that there were 523 exhibits in the Allahabad High Court’s submission. Some of the exhibits were ancient texts in Arabic, Persian and Sanskrit which were submitted by the litigants to bolster their case, CNN-News18 reported. The Sunni Waqf Board told the apex court that the translation of the texts is not yet complete. The board further sought at least four months time to translate the historical documents. Instead of four, the Supreme Court has given three months time for the translation. The court also said that it will facilitate the translation. On Wednesday,the Shia Central Waqf Board  told the Supreme Court a mosque could be built in a Muslim-dominated area at a “reasonable distance” from the disputed site in Ayodhya. The affidavit, filed by Syed Waseem Rizvi, chairman of Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board, disputed the claim of Sunni Waqf Board, saying the Babri Masjid site was its property and only it was entitled to hold negotiations for an amicable settlement of the dispute. Favouring construction of the mosque at a “reasonable distance” from the site, it said, “Closeness of places of worship, that is, Masjid and Mandir of the two litigating denominations, should be avoided in as much as both denominations using loud speakers tend to disturb religious performances of each other, often leading to conflicts bringing acrimony in the two factions.”