Nirmohi Akhara moves SC against Centre's plea to return acquired land around Ayodhya site to owners

Nirmohi Akhara, one of the litigants in the Ayodhya case, on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court opposing the Centre's plea seeking the return of 67.390 acres of "non-disputed" acquired land around the disputed Ram Janambhoomi - Babri Masjid site to original owners.

The Allahabad High Court in 2010 had decided that 2.77-acre disputed land at Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid site would be divided into three equal parts and will be handed over to -- Nirmohi Akhara, Sunni Waqf Board, and Ram Lalla.

The Nirmohi Akhara, in its fresh plea, has opposed the Centre's application by which it had sought modification of the Supreme Court's 2003 order to allow it to return to original owners the 67.390 acre of "non-disputed" acquired land around the disputed Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya.

The application has said that the Centre has proposed returning of acquired land to Ram Janambhoomi Nyas and that there are many temples on the acquired land and their rights would be affected if the land is returned to one party.

The apex court had recently appointed mediators to find an amicable solution to the vexatious land dispute.

READ: Plea Filed Against 'Ram Ki Janmabhoomi' Movie In Supreme Court A Day Ahead Of Its Release, Petitioners Claim It'll Influence Ayodhya Mediation Process

Earlier in March, a five-judge Supreme Court bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi announced the order in the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case Ayodhya referring it for mediation by a panel. The mediation panel will be headed by former apex court judge Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla, while the other members appointed include spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate-mediator Sriram Panchu. 

Following the appointment of mediation panel, Nirmohi Akhara on March 25 filed a plea in the Supreme Court, seeking modification in the Ayodhya title suit mediation order. In the plea, the Nirmohi Akhara said that it wants the Supreme Court to move the mediation out of Faizabad and shift it to a neutral place. The plea demanded the judges be appointed as the mediators in the Ayodhya title suit.

READ: SC Appointed Ram Temple Mediation Committee Have Invited BJP Leader Subramanian Swamy To Suggest A Solution To Resolve The Ram Janmbhoomi- Babri Masjid Land Dispute

(With PTI inputs)