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Status Quo to be maintained in Ayodhya: SC
New Delhi, Mar 31: Supreme Court today dismissed the Union government `s application seeking vacation of its order prohibiting religious activities on the 67 acres undisputed land around the 2.77 acres disputed site at Ayodhya.
New Delhi, Mar 31: Supreme Court today dismissed the Union government `s application seeking vacation of its order prohibiting religious activities on the 67 acres undisputed land around the 2.77 acres disputed site at Ayodhya.
A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice S Rajendra Babu said, "We are of the view that the Supreme Court order on March 13/14, 2002 should be operative till the Allahabad High Court disposes the title suits."
The court said the Union government`s application required to be rejected "not only to maintain communal harmony but also to fulfil other obligations".
This order came on an application filed by the union government on a pending petition filed by Mohammad Aslam alias Bhure.
The Union government had filed this application seeking vacation of the March 13-14 ban order saying there was a vast difference between the situation prevailing last year and at present.
The government has also indicated that as par the 1994 order of the Supreme Court the Centre was free to hand over the management of the undisputed land to a trust or a registered body after making adequate provisions for the access to the disputed site.
However, all the Muslim bodies - All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Babri Masjid Action Committee and Babri Masjid Movement Coordination Committee - had opposed the Centre`s application saying it has not pointed out any change in the ground situation at Ayodhya to seek alteration in the last year`s status quo order.
The Allahabad High Court at present is hearing rival suites claiming ownership of the 2.77 acres disputed land and has ordered excavation by Archaeological Survey of India to determine whether a temple pre-existed the Babri Masjid.
Bureau Report
A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice S Rajendra Babu said, "We are of the view that the Supreme Court order on March 13/14, 2002 should be operative till the Allahabad High Court disposes the title suits."
The court said the Union government`s application required to be rejected "not only to maintain communal harmony but also to fulfil other obligations".
This order came on an application filed by the union government on a pending petition filed by Mohammad Aslam alias Bhure.
The Union government had filed this application seeking vacation of the March 13-14 ban order saying there was a vast difference between the situation prevailing last year and at present.
The government has also indicated that as par the 1994 order of the Supreme Court the Centre was free to hand over the management of the undisputed land to a trust or a registered body after making adequate provisions for the access to the disputed site.
However, all the Muslim bodies - All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Babri Masjid Action Committee and Babri Masjid Movement Coordination Committee - had opposed the Centre`s application saying it has not pointed out any change in the ground situation at Ayodhya to seek alteration in the last year`s status quo order.
The Allahabad High Court at present is hearing rival suites claiming ownership of the 2.77 acres disputed land and has ordered excavation by Archaeological Survey of India to determine whether a temple pre-existed the Babri Masjid.
Bureau Report