CJI Expects To Conclude Ayodhya Hearing By Oct 18
A Supreme Court bench hearing the Ram-Janmabhoomi Babri Masjid land dispute case on Wednesday said it hopes to complete the hearing in the matter by October 18.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi also said that petitioners in the case are free to resort to mediation through the apex court appointed panel, but the day-to-day hearing in the case would continue.
The day-to-day proceedings in the land dispute case have reached "an advanced stage" and will continue, said the five-judge Constitution bench, which comprises Justices S. A. Bobde, D. Y. Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S. A. Nazeer. “Let us all make a joint effort to conclude the arguments by October 18,” CJI Gogoi told the petitioners adding if necessary, the court may even hear it for an extra hour or on Saturdays.
The court, however, said the mediation process under the chairmanship of apex court-appointed mediator, Justice Kalifulla, can also still continue. The court further said it has received a letter from Justice Kalifulla, saying some parties have written to him for resumption of the mediation process. Chairmen of Sunni Waqf Board and Nirvani Akhara have written to SC mediation panel, calling for resumption of the mediation process.
The bench told lawyers from both the Hindu and Muslim sides that it wanted to conclude the day-to-day hearings in the case by October 18 so that judges get almost four weeks time to write the judgment.
From the Hindu side, Ram Lalla Virajman's lawyers said they will take two days while other parties this side said a couple of days more should be enough to complete their arguments.
The observation assumes significance due to the fact that CJI Gogoi is set to demit office on November 17. If the judgment is not delivered before his retirement, the entire matter would have to be heard afresh.
The apex court had on August 6 commenced day-to-day proceedings in the sensitive land dispute case as mediation proceedings initiated to find an amicable resolution had failed.
On December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid, constructed at the disputed site in the 16th century by Mir Baqi, was demolished.
The day-to-day proceedings in the land dispute case have reached "an advanced stage" and will continue, said the five-judge Constitution bench, which comprises Justices S. A. Bobde, D. Y. Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S. A. Nazeer. “Let us all make a joint effort to conclude the arguments by October 18,” CJI Gogoi told the petitioners adding if necessary, the court may even hear it for an extra hour or on Saturdays.
The court, however, said the mediation process under the chairmanship of apex court-appointed mediator, Justice Kalifulla, can also still continue. The court further said it has received a letter from Justice Kalifulla, saying some parties have written to him for resumption of the mediation process. Chairmen of Sunni Waqf Board and Nirvani Akhara have written to SC mediation panel, calling for resumption of the mediation process.
The bench told lawyers from both the Hindu and Muslim sides that it wanted to conclude the day-to-day hearings in the case by October 18 so that judges get almost four weeks time to write the judgment.
From the Hindu side, Ram Lalla Virajman's lawyers said they will take two days while other parties this side said a couple of days more should be enough to complete their arguments.
The observation assumes significance due to the fact that CJI Gogoi is set to demit office on November 17. If the judgment is not delivered before his retirement, the entire matter would have to be heard afresh.
The apex court had on August 6 commenced day-to-day proceedings in the sensitive land dispute case as mediation proceedings initiated to find an amicable resolution had failed.
On December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid, constructed at the disputed site in the 16th century by Mir Baqi, was demolished.
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