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Photos: The Ram Janmabhoomi - Babri Masjid title dispute so far

The mediation panel in the Ayodhya land dispute case submitted a status report in a sealed cover on Thursday August 1, 2019 in compliance with the Supreme Court's order. Consequently, the court is to begin hearing the Ram Janmabhoomi - Babri Masjid title case in an open court on August 2. Fourteen appeals are pending before the court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict which ordered equal division of the 2.77-acre disputed land --where the 16th-century Babri Masjid demolished on December 6, 1992 was located --among the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. Here’s the events so far.

Updated on: Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM IST

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1/13

People climb atop Babri Masjid the day it was demolished in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh on December 06, 1992. The Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case has dragged on for over 25 years but the dispute is over a century old. On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the demolition, the Supreme Court said it will hear appeals regarding the dispute in February 2018. The belief is that the birthplace of Lord Rama is located under the mosque’s central dome. (Sanjay Sharma / HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

People climb atop Babri Masjid the day it was demolished in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh on December 06, 1992. The Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case has dragged on for over 25 years but the dispute is over a century old. On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the demolition, the Supreme Court said it will hear appeals regarding the dispute in February 2018. The belief is that the birthplace of Lord Rama is located under the mosque’s central dome. (Sanjay Sharma / HT Archive)

2/13

Muslims demonstrators at India Gate rallying for Babri Masjid on March 30, 1987. While the case took centre stage after the demolition in 1992, disputes over the ownership of the land date back to 18th century with the first incident of violence over the site recorded in 1853. The epic court dispute began when Mahant Raghubir Das, a Hindu priest, filed the first court case and sought permission to build a canopy on the Ramchabutra. (Virendra Prabhakar / HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

Muslims demonstrators at India Gate rallying for Babri Masjid on March 30, 1987. While the case took centre stage after the demolition in 1992, disputes over the ownership of the land date back to 18th century with the first incident of violence over the site recorded in 1853. The epic court dispute began when Mahant Raghubir Das, a Hindu priest, filed the first court case and sought permission to build a canopy on the Ramchabutra. (Virendra Prabhakar / HT Archive)

3/13

Hindu groups formed a committee in 1984 to lead the construction of a Ram temple at the Janmabhoomi site and the movement gathered momentum under BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani. In 1989, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) laid the foundation of a Ram temple on the land next to the Babri Masjid. (Rajiv Gupta / HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

Hindu groups formed a committee in 1984 to lead the construction of a Ram temple at the Janmabhoomi site and the movement gathered momentum under BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani. In 1989, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) laid the foundation of a Ram temple on the land next to the Babri Masjid. (Rajiv Gupta / HT Archive)

4/13

(L-R) AB Vajpayee, Murli Manohar Joshi and LK Advani at a party National Executive Committee meeting. BJP president Advani in 1990 went on a Somnath-to-Ayodhya Rath Yatra to ‘educate people’ about the movement to build a temple at the site. In 1991, BJP became the primary opposition party and came to power in Uttar Pradesh. The momentum for the temple movement increased as kar sevaks (volunteers) poured into Ayodhya. (HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

(L-R) AB Vajpayee, Murli Manohar Joshi and LK Advani at a party National Executive Committee meeting. BJP president Advani in 1990 went on a Somnath-to-Ayodhya Rath Yatra to ‘educate people’ about the movement to build a temple at the site. In 1991, BJP became the primary opposition party and came to power in Uttar Pradesh. The momentum for the temple movement increased as kar sevaks (volunteers) poured into Ayodhya. (HT Archive)

5/13

As BJP gained momentum with its Rath Yatra, thousands of kar sevaks gathered in Ayodhya. The mosque was partially damaged in 1990 and at least 30 were killed in police firing. The state government, under Mulayam Singh Yadav, swore protection and promised a complete lockdown of the site and city. (Rajiv Gupta / HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

As BJP gained momentum with its Rath Yatra, thousands of kar sevaks gathered in Ayodhya. The mosque was partially damaged in 1990 and at least 30 were killed in police firing. The state government, under Mulayam Singh Yadav, swore protection and promised a complete lockdown of the site and city. (Rajiv Gupta / HT Archive)

6/13

A politically charged crowd after speeches by LK Advani, Murli Manohor Joshi and Uma Bharti stormed the Babri Masjid and razed it to the ground, sparking anti-communal riots across India in which an estimated 2,000 people were killed. (Sanjay Sharma / HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

A politically charged crowd after speeches by LK Advani, Murli Manohor Joshi and Uma Bharti stormed the Babri Masjid and razed it to the ground, sparking anti-communal riots across India in which an estimated 2,000 people were killed. (Sanjay Sharma / HT Archive)

7/13

In the immediate fallout, then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao’s government dismissed BJP governments in UP, MP, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Ten days after the mosque was demolished, Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao set up a commission of inquiry under retired judge Justice MS Liberhan. (HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

In the immediate fallout, then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao’s government dismissed BJP governments in UP, MP, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Ten days after the mosque was demolished, Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao set up a commission of inquiry under retired judge Justice MS Liberhan. (HT Archive)

8/13

A special court hearing the Babri Masjid demolition case ordered framing of charges against 49 accused, including senior BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Kalyan Singh (L) in September 1997. (HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

A special court hearing the Babri Masjid demolition case ordered framing of charges against 49 accused, including senior BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Kalyan Singh (L) in September 1997. (HT Archive)

9/13

In 2002, under pressure from VHP, the Centre filed an application in the Supreme Court for vacating the ‘interim order’ banning any religious activity in Ayodhya. On February 6, 2002 at least 59 people were killed when a train in Godhra, Gujarat carrying kar sevaks from Ayodhya was attacked. As a result, riots erupted across Gujarat in which over 1,000 people were killed. (HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

In 2002, under pressure from VHP, the Centre filed an application in the Supreme Court for vacating the ‘interim order’ banning any religious activity in Ayodhya. On February 6, 2002 at least 59 people were killed when a train in Godhra, Gujarat carrying kar sevaks from Ayodhya was attacked. As a result, riots erupted across Gujarat in which over 1,000 people were killed. (HT Archive)

10/13

After the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court began hearings to determine who owns the Ayodhya site, Prime Minister AB Vajpayee set up an Ayodhya cell to hold talks with Hindu and Muslim leaders. After a series of events following the Allahabad High Court verdict of a three-way division of the disputed land and its subsequent failure, the top court called for an amicable settlement. (Pradeep Bhatia / HT Archive)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

After the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court began hearings to determine who owns the Ayodhya site, Prime Minister AB Vajpayee set up an Ayodhya cell to hold talks with Hindu and Muslim leaders. After a series of events following the Allahabad High Court verdict of a three-way division of the disputed land and its subsequent failure, the top court called for an amicable settlement. (Pradeep Bhatia / HT Archive)

11/13

On the eve of 25th anniversary of the demolition the SC decided to hear civil appeals filed by various parties challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict on the title dispute on February 8 next year.The court had for the first time suggested mediation as a possibility in a hearing on February 26. (Amal KS / HT File)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

On the eve of 25th anniversary of the demolition the SC decided to hear civil appeals filed by various parties challenging the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict on the title dispute on February 8 next year.The court had for the first time suggested mediation as a possibility in a hearing on February 26. (Amal KS / HT File)

12/13

Syed Shakil Ahmed (C) representing the Sunni Waqf board addresses the media after a Ram Janmabhoomi Babri Masjid land dispute case hearing. After chairman of the mediation panel, Justice FM Khalifullah sought more time to reach a solution, Rajeev Dhavan, advocate for Muslim parties, said they support all attempts at mediation if a conclusion can be reached. (Biplov Bhuyan / HT File)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

Syed Shakil Ahmed (C) representing the Sunni Waqf board addresses the media after a Ram Janmabhoomi Babri Masjid land dispute case hearing. After chairman of the mediation panel, Justice FM Khalifullah sought more time to reach a solution, Rajeev Dhavan, advocate for Muslim parties, said they support all attempts at mediation if a conclusion can be reached. (Biplov Bhuyan / HT File)

13/13

Hindu Mahasabha lawyer Vishnu Shankar addresses the media over the case. The suggestion for mediation in the matter has been opposed by the Uttar Pradesh government and the Hindu parties, except the Nirmohi Akhara, a religious denomination that is one of the main parties to the civil suit. (Amal KS / HT File)

Updated on Aug 02, 2019 12:59 PM

Hindu Mahasabha lawyer Vishnu Shankar addresses the media over the case. The suggestion for mediation in the matter has been opposed by the Uttar Pradesh government and the Hindu parties, except the Nirmohi Akhara, a religious denomination that is one of the main parties to the civil suit. (Amal KS / HT File)

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