SC to announce Ayodhya verdict; Here is the brief overview of the case

The most monumental event in Indian history, The Supreme Court of India is all set to give its verdict in the Ayodhya Land dispute on November 9, Saturday. This comes after the Supreme Court reserved its verdict after 40 days of marathon hearings on October 16. The state of Uttar Pradesh has also geared up for the verdict as heavy security has been deployed and all schools and colleges in the state have been instructed to remain closed. 

READ | Supreme Court Reserves Ayodhya Verdict After 40-day Marathon Hearings

Course of the case in the Supreme Court

After several pleas and hearings in the case since 1950, The Supreme Court on January 25, 2019, had constituted a 5- member bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi who is set to retire from his duties after pronouncing the verdict tomorrow, on November 16. The five-member bench set on January 25 comprised of justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer. 4 days later on January 29, the government moved to the apex court seeking its permission to return the 67-acre acquired land around the disputed Ayodhya site to original owners which was later opposed by Nirmohi Akhara on April 9. In a major development, later on, February 26, the SC favoured mediation between the two sides and on March 8 it referred a panel headed by former SC judge F M I Kallifulla for mediation between the sides.

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The 3-member mediation committee submitted its interim report to the SC on May 9 and on the very next day, the Supreme Court extended the time till August 15 to complete the mediation process. July 11, SC sought report on 'progress of mediation' and on July 18, the SC allowed the mediation process to continue hoping of some major development through mediation and sought outcome report by August 1. On August 1, the 3 member mediation committee submitted the report of mediation to the SC in a sealed cover. The next day SC had decided to conduct day-to-day hearing on the Ayodhya land dispute which led to the final 40-day marathon hearings in the Supreme Court. On October 4, the SC announced that it would wrap up the hearing on October 17 and announced the judgement by November 17. Finally, on October 16, the Supreme Court concluded its hearing and reserved its order. 

READ | Ayodhya Case | Questions Not To Hindu Side, Only To Us: Muslim Parties

The last day drama in SC

In a major twist on the 40th day of the day-to-day hearing in the Ayodhya case, mediation panel of Justice FMI Kalifulla, Senior advocate Sriram Panchu, and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar filed a settlement report before the Supreme Court. This came after the Sunni Waqf board surrendered its claim over the disputed land in Ayodhya. The decision came in light of an agreement reached between a few parties during the mediation proceedings, at the final leg of the hearing on the 2.77 acres disputed land. The mediation panel submitted the sealed report in the apex court. As the Ayodhya case entered the last day of hearing, in a distasteful move, senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan, who is representing the Muslim group in the case tore a book inside the courtroom. The book in question ‘Ayodhya Revisited’ was submitted to the bench by senior advocate Vikas Singh to supplement his arguments. Dhavan objected to the submission and tore the pages of the book. The bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi condemning the incident stated that if the behaviour continues, they would halt the proceedings and walk out. 

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