New Delhi: The Supreme Court will on Monday begin hearing the arguments of the Muslim parties in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid in Ayodhya dispute. The top court completed hearing the arguments of all the Hindu parties–including the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla Virajman–in the case, in 16 days. It initiated daily hearings in the case on August 6.
Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, who is representing the Sunni Waqf Board, will on Monday begin point-by-point rebuttal of the arguments made by the lawyers of the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla Virajman (the deity and his birthplace) in the case.
Dhavan had initially informed the apex court that he would take 20 days to wrap up his arguments, which means the daily hearings will technically be over before the end of September. This will give the apex court more than a month to pass a judgment on the politically-vexed issue.
In their arguments, the Muslim parties are likely to contest the Nirmohi Akhara’s claim on the disputed site. This could be a crucial phase in the Ayodhya title dispute hearing, especially after the Nirmohi Akhara told the Supreme Court that it is not opposing the lawsuit filed by Ram Lalla Virajman.
The turnaround by the Nirmohi Akhara came after it was told by the Supreme Court that its right as ‘shebait’ (devotee) over the property can only stand if the lawsuit of ‘Ram Lalla Virajman’ is allowed.
According to a source in the Akhara, the Muslim parties will contest its presence on the disputed site for last 150 years and also argue to establish that the idols were never inside the inner courtyard, rather they were “placed there”.
The Akhara’s counsel had told the apex court that no namaz had been offered at the disputed site since 1934, but the Muslim parties are likely to tell the court that the last namaz was offered there on December 16, 1949.
The Muslim side had in 1961 filed a suit seeking a decree to refer to the structure as a “mosque”.
The Muslim parties refused to comment on their strategy to contest the Akhara claims.
“Monday is very crucial for us, as we get to begin our arguments in the Ayodhya title dispute,” said a source on the condition of anonymity. (IANS)
