The Supreme Court has granted an extension to the team that is mediating between various stakeholders in the Ayodhya dispute to find an amicable solution. The mediation team comprising former SC judge FM Kalifulla, spiritual guru Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu now has until August 15 to deliver a solution acceptable to all parties.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, and justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer are presiding over the case. As many as 14 appeals had been filed against the 2010 judgement by the Allahabad High Court that directed the 2.77 acres land at the disputed site be partitioned equally among three parties, namely; Sunni Waqf Board, Nimrohi Akhada and Ram Lalla (the infant deity).
CJP had also filed an Intervention Petition requesting that the dispute be seen as more than just a property dispute, but one that threatens the socio-cultural fabric of India. The petition was signed by over 30 eminent citizens including Aparna Sen, Shyam Benegal, Anil Dharkar, Medha Patkar, Aruna Roy, Anand Patwardhan, Teesta Setalvad, Cyrus Guzder, Sohail Hashmi, John Dayal, Kumar Ketkar, Dolphy D’ Souza, Kiran Nagarkar, MK Raina and Joy Sengupta among others. Though our petition was dismissed we are happy to note that the SC has focused on healing. When the matter was referred for mediation in March, Justice Bobe had reportedly remarked, “We are looking at minds, hearts and healing if possible.”
The next meeting between stakeholders will take place in June.