The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday reserved its verdict on whether the Ayodhya title dispute case should be resolved through court-monitored mediation.
A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi asked the petitioners to suggest names for a “mediator or panel of mediators” and said “we intend to pass the order very shortly”.
The parties supporting the construction of Ram temple at the site argued that mediation is futile considering the sensitive nature of the case and urged the court to decide instead. The counsel for Ram Lalla Virajman, the presiding deity of a makeshift temple at the disputed site, offered to support the construction of a mosque at an alternated site through crowdfunding.
However, the Advocate appearing on behalf of Muslim petitioners said that they are agreeable to mediation and any compromise or settlement will bind parties.
Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case:Advocate Rajeev Dhavan,who is appearing for group of Muslim petitioners in the case,says, “Muslim petitioners are agreeable to mediation&any compromise or settlement will bind parties,” asks bench to frame terms for mediation pic.twitter.com/tq3PsdUnHc
— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2019
The bench had previously asked all the parties involved in the case to explore the possibility of settling the matter through an in-camera, court-monitored process of mediation that could pave the way for a “healing”.
