SC admits appeal in Ayodhya verdict

The Supreme Court on Monday admitted two more petitions challenging the September 2010 Allahabad high court verdict for a three-way division of the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya. HT reports.

The Supreme Court on Monday admitted two more petitions challenging the September 2010 Allahabad high court verdict for a three-way division of the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya.

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The latest petitions are from Akhil Bhartiya Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Samiti and one Farooq Ahmed. As the court ordered tagging of the two petitions with the main case, Sunni Waqf Board opposed the plea of the Ram Janmabhoomi Samiti on the ground that it was not a party to the dispute before the high court.

But a bench of justice Aftab Alam and justice RM Lodha said it would consider the board's objection at the time of hearing.

The apex court had on May 9 stayed the operation of HC order, saying none of the parties demanded partition of the land.

Terming the HC verdict “strange”, the SC had said: “A new dimension was given by the high court as the decree of partition was not sought by the parties. It was not prayed by anyone. It has to be stayed." It wondered how the high court could pass such an order when it was not prayed by anyone.

A three-judge bench of the Allahabad high court's Lucknow bench passed three separate judgments on September 30 with the majority holding that the area covered by the central dome of the three-domed structure, where the idol of Lord Rama is situated, belonged to Hindus.