Can’t undo what Babur did, says Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it will pass orders on whether to refer the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for mediation, underlining that it has no control over what Mughal ruler Babur did and is only concerned with resolving the present situation.

The top court said it thinks that primarily the issue is not about 1,500 square-foot land, but about religious sentiments.

A five-Judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, which reserved verdict on referring the matter for mediation, said that it is conscious of the impact of the issue on “public sentiment” and on “body politic”.

“Arguments on the issue of reference to mediation are closed. Arguments concluded. Orders reserved,” said the bench, also comprising Justices S.A. Bobde, D.Y. Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S. Abdul Nazeer.

While reserving the order, the court had said that the parties involved in the case may suggest names of mediators for consideration if it orders mediation on the dispute.

Hindu bodies except Nirmohi Akhara opposed the suggestion of the court to refer the issue for mediation, while Muslim bodies supported it.

When a counsel appearing for a Hindu body said that the issue should not be referred for mediation as it would fail and public would not agree, the bench said that it is not appropriate to pre-judge.