New Delhi: In a historic judgment in the sensitive Ayodhya land dispute case, the Supreme Court on Saturday directed the Centre to form within three months a trust which will make a decision regarding the disputed site. Meanwhile, the Sunni Waqf Board, which was a party to the 7-decade-old title suit, should be given an alternate five-acre land at some other suitable place for construction of a mosque
In one of the most important and most anticipated judgments in India's history, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi put an end to the more than a century-old dispute that has torn the social fabric of the nation.
"The facts, evidence and oral arguments of the present case have traversed the realms of history, archaeology, religion and the law," read the conclusion of the SC verdict document in Ayodhya title dispute case.
Taking all the evidence into account, the SC preserved the 'sense of balance' that the beliefs of one citizen do not interfere with or dominate the freedoms and beliefs of another. In its verdict, the apex court claimed that it does not decide title on the basis of faith or belief but on the basis of evidence.
The court observed that possession of the outer courtyard by the Hindus stands established based on incidental evidence. Meanwhile, the inner courtyard, Muslim parties failed to establish any evidence which might indicate that they were in 'exclusive' possession of the courtyard prior to 1857.
However, evidence also point to the fact that Namaz was offered in the structure in 1949. Subsequent exclusion of Muslims from their place of worship was considered by SC as wrongly depriving a community of their place of worship.
Observing that the High Court verdict in the case would not offer a possible long-lasting peace and harmony, the SC decided to allocate land to the Sunni Waqf board either by the Union government or the state government, in the city of Ayodhya, as a means of relief to a deprived community.
The SC rejected the 'Shebaite' rights of the Nirmohi Akhara but as an acknowledgment of their historic role at the disputed site, the court directed the government to assign an appropriate 'management role' in the management of the disputed site.
The CJI-led bench directed the Central government to form a scheme, within three months, for setting up a trust with a Board of trustees. The functions includes management of the site, construction of the temple, and all incidental and supplemental matters. Both the inner and outer courtyards will also be handed over to the board of trustees.
Until the formation of the trust, the site will continue to vest in the statutory receiver under the Central government.
Read: Ayodhya verdict LIVE: Disputed land given to Central govt, alternate land for Muslims
