nThe Supreme Court on Wednesday said it intends to pass the order soon on whether to refer the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for mediation and asked all the parties concerned for the names of possible mediators for reaching an amicable settlement.
A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and SA Nazeer reserved the order on whether or not to refer the Ayodhya land dispute for mediation.
Hindu bodies except Nirmohi Akhara opposed the suggestion of the court to refer the matter for mediation, while Muslim bodies supported the suggestion.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the UP Government, said the SC should refer it for mediation only when there exists an element of settlement.
Senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for Ram Lalla Virajman, told the Bench that mediation has not yielded any result in the past despite repeated attempts.
There is no dispute that Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya but the dispute is what is the Ram Janmasthan (place of birth), he said, adding that he issue of Janmasthan cannot be mediated.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy told the SC, “PV Narsimha Rao Government had in 1994 made commitment to apex court that if ever found that there was a temple, land will be given for temple construction.”
“It is not only about property. It is about mind, heart and healing, if possible,” the Bench said.
