First Ayodhya mediation panel meet Today

Ayodhya: As the three-member mediation panel meets for the first time on the Ayodhya title suit today, Muslim Rashtriya Manch and Hindu Maha Sabha have expressed support for the construction of Ram Temple by resolving the issues through talks.

The Supreme Court had on March 8 referred the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for court-appointed and monitored mediation and expressed the view that the proceedings should be conducted with "utmost confidentiality" to ensure its success.

"We welcome this decision by the Supreme Court. I believe that through this meet will give a push to the new start for the construction of Ram Temple. If there will be a decision taken by the mediators soon then I feel it will be positive for the country and the people," Syed Yaser Jilani of Muslim Rashtriya Manch told ANI.

Resonating similar sentiments, Hindu Maha Sabha's Swami Chakrapani said, "This country belongs to all of us. Through talks, we can resolve big-big issues. The Supreme Court wants both the parties to win. It does not want anybody to lose. Even I have received a letter to be a part of this. I will definitely go there. Even after the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya we all have to stay in this country. We don't want to construct the temple through violence. We want to make it through the support of everybody. We believe that through mediation a decision will surely be taken on this matter."

While hearing the matter on March 8, a five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, "We have considered the nature of the dispute arising. Notwithstanding the lack of consensus between the parties in the matter, we are of the view that an attempt should be made to settle the dispute by mediation".

After taking note of the submissions made by the parties concerned, the bench constituted a three-member committee which would be chaired by retired top court judge Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla.

The panel would have Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior Madras High Court advocate Sriram Panchu as members.

In its order, the bench, which also comprised Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer, said that the mediation proceedings will be held in Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh and the state government will provide the mediators all facilities.

The bench was hearing appeals against the September 30, 2010 verdict of the Allahabad High Court which ordered a three-way division of the disputed 2.77 acres of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya between the Nirmohi Akhara sect, the Sunni Central Wakf Board, Uttar Pradesh and Ramlalla Virajman.