New Delhi: Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, who represented the Muslim parties in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute in the Supreme Court, on Tuesday said he has been sacked from the case.
Dhavan accused Maqbool of lying Dhavan made this announcement in a Facebook post published early Tuesday morning.
He wrote: "Just been sacked from the Babri case by advocate-on-record Ejaz Maqbool, who was representing the Jamiat. Have sent formal letter accepting the sacking without demur. No longer involved in the review of the case."
Dhavan said he is no longer involved in the review of the case Dhavan had vehemently argued the case for the Muslim side before a five-judge bench headed by then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. He had argued for more than two weeks in the 40 day hearing of the matter.
Read: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind files review plea against SC's Ayodhya verdict
During the course of the arguments, Dhavan had replied to the probing queries from the bench.
The petition has been filed by Maulana Syed Ashhad Madani, President, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind. Muslim parties have put out a volley of questions in the review petition challenging the November 9 judgement in the Ayodhya title dispute.
'Total nonsense,' says Dhavan on reason for sacking
Elaborating on the reason for his removal from the case, Dhavan said: "I have been informed that Mr Madani has indicated that I was removed from the case because I was unwell."
Dhavan dubbed the reason as 'nonsense' He has referred Madani's reason as "total nonsense. He has a right to instruct his lawyer Maqbool to sack me, which he did on instructions. But the reason being floated is malicious and untrue", said Dhavan in the second post on the social media platform.
Wrong to say Dhavan was sacked: Maqbool
Responding to Dhavan's claims, Advocate-on-record Ejaz Maqbool said that it would be wrong to say that Dhavan was removed from the case.
"Issue is that my client (Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind) wanted to file the review petition yesterday. It was to be settled by Mr Rajeev Dhavan. I could not give his name in the petition because he was not available. It is not a big issue," he said.
AIMPLB backs Dhavan, says will continue to fight case under him
Reacting to the development, All India Muslim Personal Law Board spokesperson Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said, "Rajeev Dhavan has always been a symbol of justice and unity. AIMPLB will continue its efforts in the Supreme Court under his esteemed leadership."
"We are indebted to the senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan for his sincere exceptional and incomparable efforts in the Babri Masjid Case. We hope that he would represent us again when the review petition is filed," added board secretary Maulana Umrain.
The review petition said the apex court has erred on 14 key points while arriving at a judgment in favour of Hindu parties. "By virtue of the impugned judgment, the Supreme Court has effectively granted a mandamus to destroy the Babri Masjid and to construct a temple of Lord Ram in the said place", said the review petition emphasising that peace without justice is not possible.
Read: Arshad Madani files review petition in SC against Ayodhya Verdict
