This year began with a digital media and social media frenzy over the inauguration of Ayodhya temple on January 22, 2024. The invitations sent for the inauguration event covered people across many sections, opposition leaders, actors, cricketers, doctors, and even some NRIs (Non-residential Indians). Many controversies unfolded in the weeks prior to the inauguration with major parties of the opposition refusing to attend the said inauguration, deeming it to be a political event overtaken by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). And today, on January 19, Law Today took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to announce that the five Supreme Court judges who gave the verdict in the Babri Masjid demolition-Ram Janmabhoomi case have been invited as state guests for the said consecration ceremony. These said verdict was delivered by the then Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, (former) Justice Ashok Bhushan, (former) Justice SA Bobde, (former) Justice S Abdul Nazeer and Justice DY Chandrachud (current CJI).
In the year 2019, a Supreme Court bench comprising the aforementioned five judges had ruled in favour of construction of a Ram temple by a trust at the disputed site after the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. While handing the disputed land for the construction of the Ram Temple, the bench had said that the razing of the mosque by thousands of kar sevaks or Hindu volunteers breached its 1991 order for status quo at the disputed site and its “obliteration” was a “calculated act” and “an egregious violation of the rule of law”.
As per the social media post, the invitees to the said ceremony also includes over 50 jurists, which includes former CJIs, judges and lawyers. As per a report of the India Today, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and former Attorney General KK Venugopal are also among the invitees. It is unclear who all from the judiciary will be attending the said ceremony.
The post can be viewed here:
BIG BREAKING: The five Supreme Court judges, who gave the historic verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi case, have been invited as state guests for the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir on Jan 22. The invitees also include over 50 jurists including former CJIs, judges & lawyers. pic.twitter.com/Hs1rQLnKEi
— Law Today (@LawTodayLive) January 19, 2024
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