A day after the Sunni Waqf Board refused to file a review petition against the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict, the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Wednesday said it will go ahead with its plea against the apex court’s order before December 9.
“The board is firm on its decision to file a review petition in the Supreme Court and we have time till December 9 for doing so,” AIMPLB secretary Zafaryab Jilani said, adding: “We are only exercising our constitutional right. We are going to file a review petition in the Babri Masjid case and the UP Sunni Waqf Board’s decision to not pursue the case will have no legal effect on us. All Muslim organisations are on the same page.”
The Sunni Central Waqf Board had on Tuesday decided against filing a review petition against the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya case, but has yet to take a call on whether to accept the five-acre alternative plot for a mosque.
Stressing that the decision of the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board, one of the main litigants, will have no effect on the AIMPLB decision, Jilani said they have already taken the decision in this regard at its meeting on November 17.
“Exercising our constitutional right, we are going to file a review petition in the Babri Masjid case during the first week of December. The Sunni Waqf Board’s decision not to pursue the case won’t affect us legally. All Muslim organisations are on the same page,” Zafaryab Jilani was quoted as saying in a tweet by the AIMPLB.
“The date for filing the review petition cannot be announced as of now as it is yet to be decided on whose behalf it will be filed,” Jilani said while alleging that prospective Muslim parties, who can file the review petition, are being harassed by the Ayodhya police.
“The police are warning Muslim litigants that they will be framed and put behind bars if they file a review petition. This behaviour of police can also be mentioned in the petition that will be moved before the apex court,” the AIMPLB secretary said.
In a unanimous verdict on November 9, the Supreme Court had paved the way for construction of the Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. It also directed the Centre to allot a five-acre plot to Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque.
The BJP had welcomed the decision of the UP Sunni Waqf Board to not file a review petition. “I welcome the Sunni Waqf Board’s decision to not file review petition on the Ayodhya verdict. It is in national interest and aimed at maintaining harmony in the country. The way Hindus and Muslims showed maturity and compassion towards each other post the verdict shows how the brotherhood amongst Indians is above all,” a BJP spokesman said.