News / Supreme Court to hear Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case today

The Supreme Court will hear the politically crucial Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case, on Tuesday. Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title case deals with a controversial piece of land in Uttar Padesh's Ayodhya where Lord Ram is believed to have been born. The Babri Masjid stood on that land until it was controversially demolished by Hindu 'kar-sevaks' in 1992. The matter will be heard by a five-judge bench.

The matter will be heard by a five-judge Constitution bench, comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and SA Nazeer.

The apex court, on January 27, had cancelled the scheduled hearing for January 29 as Justice Bobde was not available.

The Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title case deals with a controversial piece of land in Uttar Padesh's Ayodhya where Lord Ram is believed to have been born. The Babri Masjid stood on that land until it was controversially demolished by Hindu 'kar-sevaks' in 1992. The Babri demolition led to nation-wide communal riots back then.

Along with the main matters, the constitution bench will also hear the connected issues raised in separate petitions.

As many as 14 appeals have been filed in the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77-acre land in Ayodhya be partitioned equally among the three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

The Supreme Court has attracted controversy for delay in hearing the case. In October last year, the Supreme Court said no to an urgent hearing and said the matter would be taken up in 2019. On January 4, the Supreme Court heard the Ayodhya case for 60 seconds and adjourned the matter to January 10.

On January 10, a bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SA Bobde, NV Ramana, UU Lalit and DY Chandrachud, was to hear the case. However, the hearing was adjourned after Justice UU Lalit recused himself from hearing the case due a possible conflict of interest.