Supreme Court gives verdict on Ayodhya dispute

The Supreme Court of India has given the verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case today.

The top court has said that the land under dispute must be given to Hindu community for the construction of temple, while a separate piece of land must be given to Muslims.

The court has said, “Land measuring 5 acre shall be given to Sunni Waqf Board.”

The five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court that pronounced the verdict was headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and also includes Justice SA Bobde, who will be the next Chief Justice of India. Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Abdul Nazeer are also part of the bench.

Before the verdict, Uttar Pradesh government announced that schools, colleges, educational institutions will remain closed in the state from 9 November to 11 November.

As a precaution, internet services have been suspended in Aligarh district for 24 hours, while Section 144 is put in place in Bengaluru and Uttar Pradesh and schools and colleges will remain shut in Rajasthan on Saturday. The Uttar Pradesh-Nepal border has also been sealed.

While reading out the verdict in the Ayodhya case, the Supreme Court said that Babri Masjid was not constructed on vacant land. “There was a structure underlying the disputed structure, the underlying structure was not an Islamic structure”.

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said that entire judgment in the case is unanimous.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, ”The Honourable Supreme Court has given its verdict on the Ayodhya issue. This verdict shouldn’t be seen as a win or loss for anybody. Be it Ram Bhakti or Rahim Bhakti, it is imperative that we strengthen the spirit of Rashtra Bhakti. May peace and harmony prevail!”

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