Ayodhya case final hearings begin in Supreme Court today: 10 points

The Supreme Court will begin the final hearings in the ultra-sensitive Ayodhya case from today.

As the top court resumes the hearings, here are 10 points that would help you understand the case so far:

1: The Supreme Court will commence the crucial hearing on a batch of petitions in the politically-sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case from today.

2: Today’s hearing assumes significance in the wake of the rejection by a special bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, the vehement submission by Sunni Waqf Board and others that the pleas be heard after the next general elections.

3: The bench, also comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and SA Nazeer, had made clear on December 5 last year, that it would begin final hearing on the petitions from February 8 and had asked the parties to file the requisite pleadings in the meantime.

4: Senior lawyers including Kapil Sibal and Rajeev Dhavan had contended that the civil appeals be either referred to a five or seven judge bench or posted in 2019 keeping in mind the sensitive nature of the case and its ramifications on the country's secular fabric and polity.

5: The top court had asked the advocates on records (AoRs), dealing with as many 14 civil appeals against the 2010 judgment of the Allahabad High Court in the land dispute, to ensure that all requisite documents are translated, filed and numbered before the apex court Registry.

6: The special bench of the apex court is seized of a total 14 appeals filed against the High Court judgement delivered in four civil suits.

7: A three-judge bench of the Allahabad High Court, in a 2:1 majority ruling, had in 2010 ordered that the land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

8: Apart from the case, Ayodhya has been in news for other reasons as well. Last year, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath organised a grand Diwali celebrations in the temple town.

9: The Yogi government has also planned for a giant statue of Lord Ram on the banks of Saryu.

10: UP DGP Surya Kumar Shukla sparked a major controversy after a video went viral in which he was seen openly favouring the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya "at the earliest".