New Delhi: The Hindu litigants — represented by lawyers K. Parasaran and C.S. Vaidyanathan — have contended that the “Janmasthan” was itself a swayambhu — a manifestation of god-like holy temples Kedarnath and Badrinath.
However, the Muslim side pointed to the varying stand of the Hindu litigants who earlier has asserted that Ram Chabutra — located in the outer courtyard of the disputed site — was Lord Ram’s Janmasthan.
Initially, as many as five lawsuits were filed in the lower court. The first one was filed by Gopal Singh Visharad, a devotee of ‘’Ram Lalla’’, in 1950 to seek enforcement of the right to worship of Hindus at the disputed site. Later, the Nirmohi Akahara also moved the trial court in 1959 seeking management and shebaiti’ (devotee) rights over the 2.77 acre disputed land.
Then came the lawsuit of the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Wakf Board which moved the court in 1961, claiming title right over the disputed property.
Besides the question of limitation in challenging the appointment of receiver of the disputed site in 1950, the hearing has witnessed divergence between deity of Lord Ram and Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas on one hand and the Nirmohi Akhara — Shebait of the temple over the title of the disputed site.
The Muslim litigant, mainly represented by senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan and Jafaryab Jilani, has contended that the mosque was in existence since 1528 and they were offering prayers till 1949 when idols were planted right under the central dome, (now demolished) of Babri Mosque on the intervening night of December 23-23, 1949.
The Muslim side too relied on the oral and documented evidence to buttress their claim over the title of the disputed site.
However, the Muslim side admitted that worship was being offered at Ram Chabutra and has conceded that if its claim to the title of the disputed site is upheld it would have no objection to devotees offering prayers at Ram Chabutra.
The apex court had on August 6 commenced day-to-day proceedings in the case as the mediation proceedings initiated to find the amicable resolution had failed.
