The Supreme Court on Tuesday began the daily hearings in the politically-sensitive case of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya after the efforts to arrive at an amicable settlement through mediation failed. A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, is conducting the hearing. However, the court has rejected the plea for recording the Ayodhya case proceedings.
The bench, comprising Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer will be hearing the case on a daily basis. The bench had earlier said that the mediation proceedings conducted by a panel, headed by former apex court judge FMI Kalifulla have not resulted in any final settlement. Counsel of Nirmohi Akhara commenced arguments in Ayodhya case, saying its suit is basically for belongings, possession and management rights.
The Ayodhya case was referred to a Constitution Bench on January 9 this year. Earlier, a three-judge Bench had declined to refer the matter to a larger Bench. In March this year, the Bench referred the Ayodhya dispute to a mediation panel comprising of former Supreme Court judge Justice FMI Kalifulla, spiritualist Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and Senior Advocate Sriram Panchu.
However, after the mediation route failed to deliver any result, the Court last week passed an order intimating that it would hear the case on a day-to-day basis, starting today.
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