DNA : Mar 06, 2019, 01:18 PM
A five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court Wednesday commenced hearing on the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case.The bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi after hearing reserved the order on whether the case can be adjudicated through mediation.The other judges of the bench are Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer.The top court on February 26 had said it would pass an order on March 6 on whether to refer the matter to a court-appointed mediator. The court asked the parties concerned to suggest the name of a mediator or panel of mediators.A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said, "We intend to pass the order soon."In the hearing, Justice Bobde came out strong for mediation in the case. As one lawyer opposed any such process, Justice Bobde said, " You are assuming there will be a compromise and one party will give up and one party will win. Mediation does not necessarily mean that.".He also said. "We have no control over what happened in the past, who invaded, who was the king, temple or mosque. We know about the present dispute. We are concerned only about resolving the dispute.It’s about sentiments, about religion and about faith. We are conscious of the gravity of the dispute."Rajeev Dhawan representing the Muslim petitioners that they are agreeable to a mediation. "Muslim petitioners are agreeable to mediation&any compromise or settlement will bind parties," said Dhawan and asked bench to frame terms for mediationSenior advocate CS Vaidyanathan representing the Hindu petitioners said that earlier such mediation attempts have failed. He said that the Ram temple has to be built at that spot. He said that the mosque has to be built somewhere else and they are ready to crowdfund it. Finally after long discussion, SC bench reserved their order regarding the possibility of mediation.