Case Overview

The Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid Land Dispute was a highly contentious legal battle over a site in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India, which has been a longstanding religious and political issue in the country. The dispute revolved around the ownership and possession of the land on which the Babri Masjid, a mosque built by Mughal Emperor Babur in the 16th century, stood. Hindus claimed that the site was the birthplace of Lord Ram and sought to construct a Ram temple on the land, while Muslims claimed the site as a place of worship for centuries and demanded the restoration of the demolished mosque.

The Ayodhya Ram Mandir case, formally known as M. Siddiq (D) Thr. Lrs. v. Mahant Suresh Das and Others, is one of the most significant and contentious legal disputes in India's history. The case revolved around the disputed religious site in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, where both Hindus and Muslims claimed ownership. The dispute had deep-rooted historical, cultural, and religious significance, dating back to the 16th century. The Supreme Court of India's judgment in this case, delivered on November 9, 2019, put an end to decades of legal battles and communal tensions, finally paving the way for the construction of a Ram Mandir at the disputed site.

Background

The Babri Masjid, located in Ayodhya, was built in 1528 by Babur's commander, Mir Baqi. In 1853, a Hindu religious sect, the Nirmohi Akhara, filed a suit seeking permission to worship the idols of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) inside the mosque. In 1885, Mahant Raghubar Das filed a suit claiming that he was the owner of the land on which the mosque stood and sought permission to construct a temple. These initial legal actions laid the foundation for a long and protracted legal battle.

In 1949, after the mosque was allegedly desecrated, idols of Lord Ram were placed inside the mosque, leading to a legal dispute between the Hindu and Muslim communities over the possession of the site. In 1950, two suits were filed in the Faizabad civil court, one by a Hindu devotee seeking access to worship the idols and another by the Sunni Central Waqf Board seeking possession of the site. The government took over the site in 1993 and allowed both Hindus and Muslims to perform their religious practices within specific areas.

Timeline of Events

  1. 1528: Construction of Babri Masjid
    A mosque known as Babri Masjid was constructed in Ayodhya under the rule of Mughal Emperor Babur.

  2. 1853: First recorded communal incident
    Tensions between Hindus and Muslims over the possession of the site emerged, leading to the first recorded communal incident.

  3. 1949: Idol placed inside the mosque
    A group of Hindus placed an idol of Lord Ram inside the central dome of the Babri Masjid, resulting in the mosque's closure by the district administration.

  4. 1950: Suits filed by parties
    Two suits were filed in the Faizabad court, one by Gopal Singh Visharad seeking permission to worship the idol, and the other by Paramahansa Ramachandra Das seeking the possession of the entire site.

  5. 1986: District Judge's order
    The district judge of Faizabad ordered the opening of the disputed site to facilitate puja (worship) for Hindus.

  6. 1989: The Allahabad High Court's decision
    The Allahabad High Court ordered the maintenance of the status quo on the disputed site.

  7. 1990: BJP's Rath Yatra
    The then-leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), L.K. Advani, commenced the Rath Yatra (chariot procession) to garner support for the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site.

  8. 1992: Babri Masjid demolished
    On December 6, 1992, a large mob of Hindu activists demolished the Babri Masjid, leading to widespread communal riots across India.

  9. 1993: Land acquisition
    The central government acquired the disputed land and adjacent areas, and the status quo was restored.

  10. 2002: Godhra train burning
    The Godhra train burning incident in Gujarat resulted in communal riots, further heightening tensions around the Ram Mandir case.

  11. 2002: ASI report
    The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted excavations at the disputed site and submitted a report, suggesting the existence of a structure beneath the mosque.

  12. 2003: Supreme Court's decision on land acquisition
    The Supreme Court held that the land acquisition by the central government was valid.

  13. 2010: Allahabad High Court's verdict
    The Allahabad High Court pronounced its verdict, dividing the disputed land into three equal parts, with one-third allotted to each of the Nirmohi Akhara, Ram Lalla Virajman, and the Sunni Waqf Board.

  14. 2011: Appeals to the Supreme Court
    All three parties filed appeals against the Allahabad High Court's verdict in the Supreme Court.

  15. 2019: Mediation efforts fail
    The Supreme Court appointed a mediation panel, but the efforts to amicably resolve the dispute did not yield results.

  16. November 2019: Supreme Court's historic verdict
    On November 9, 2019, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court delivered its historic verdict, granting the disputed land to the Ram Lalla Virajman and directing the central government to provide an alternative five-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for the construction of a mosque.

  17. August 2020: Foundation stone-laying ceremony
    The foundation stone for the Ram Mandir was laid in Ayodhya in a grand ceremony attended by various dignitaries.

Demolition of the Babri Masjid

The Babri Masjid came into the spotlight in the late 1980s when Hindu nationalist organizations, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), launched a movement for the construction of a Ram temple at the site. On December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid was demolished by Hindu extremists, leading to widespread riots and communal violence across the country.

Legal Proceedings

The case went through numerous legal proceedings over several decades. Following the demolition of the Babri Masjid, several civil suits were filed before various courts. The legal battle over the site's ownership commenced in 1950 when two suits were filed – one by Hindu parties seeking ownership and the other by Muslim parties claiming the mosque's rights. The main suits were divided into three categories: Sunni Waqf Board's suit, Nirmohi Akhara's suit, and Ram Lalla Virajman's suit.

Over the years, the case saw various developments and petitions.

In 2010, the Allahabad High Court delivered its verdict, dividing the disputed land into three parts:

  1. One-third to the Ram Lalla Virajman (the idol of infant Lord Ram) represented by Hindu parties.

  2. One-third to the Sunni Waqf Board, representing Muslim parties.

  3. One-third to the Nirmohi Akhara, a Hindu religious denomination.

However, all three parties appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Proceedings:

In 2011, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court's verdict, and the case entered a prolonged phase of hearings and deliberations. The Supreme Court formed a Constitution Bench to hear the appeals and examine the core issues surrounding the dispute.

Throughout the hearings, various stakeholders, including Hindu and Muslim groups, presented their arguments before the court. The case involved complex legal questions, including issues related to property rights, historical evidence, and religious beliefs.

In 2017, the Chief Justice of India constituted a three-judge bench to determine whether the 1994 observation in the Ismail Faruqui case, which stated that mosques were not integral to Islam, required reconsideration. In 2019, the Supreme Court concluded the hearings and reserved its judgment.

After years of legal proceedings, the Supreme Court of India delivered a historic and unanimous judgment on November 9, 2019. The court ruled in favor of the Hindu parties, allowing the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site. The court also ordered the government to provide an alternative plot of land measuring five acres to the Sunni Waqf Board for the construction of a mosque.

The government of India initiated the process of handing over the disputed site to a trust, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, for the construction of the Ram temple. Subsequently, the Sunni Waqf Board accepted the Court's decision and decided not to file a review petition.

Key Points in the Judgment

  1. Legal Standing of Hindu Parties:
    The Supreme Court recognized the Nirmohi Akhara, a Hindu religious denomination, as a legal entity with the standing to file a suit. The court acknowledged the long-standing and continuous association of the Nirmohi Akhara with the disputed site.

  2. Possession and Control:
    The court analysed historical records and testimonies to determine the parties' possession and control over the disputed site. The court observed that Hindus had been worshipping at the site even before the construction of the mosque in the 16th century. However, the court also acknowledged that Muslims had offered prayers at the mosque until its closure in 1949.

  3. Archaeological Survey:
    The court considered the findings of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to establish the existence of a large structure, indicating the presence of a Hindu temple beneath the Babri Masjid. The ASI's report was crucial in the court's analysis of the historical context.

  4. Adverse Possession:
    The court rejected the doctrine of adverse possession claimed by Muslim parties, stating that it cannot be invoked to acquire title over a religious site.

  5. Title to the Land:
    The court held that the land in question belonged to the government. It emphasized that the land's secular character should be maintained to foster peace and harmony among different religious communities.

  6. Alternative Land for Mosque:
    To ensure that the judgment did not perpetuate any sense of injustice, the court directed the government to provide an alternative land of five acres for the construction of a mosque at a prominent location in Ayodhya.

  7. Constitutional Morality:
    The court emphasized the importance of constitutional morality, secularism, and fraternity in resolving sensitive religious disputes. It urged all parties to uphold the principles enshrined in the Constitution and respect each other's beliefs and sentiments.

Aftermath

Following the Supreme Court's verdict, various stakeholders welcomed the decision, emphasizing the need for communal harmony and unity. The government initiated the process of setting up a trust for the construction of the Ram Mandir, while the Sunni Waqf Board accepted the court's ruling and agreed to abide by it.

The Supreme Court's verdict was met with mixed reactions from various sections of society. While some hailed the judgment as a resolution to a long-standing dispute, others expressed disappointment over the Court's decision to grant the disputed site to Ram Lalla Virajman.

Conclusion

The Ram Mandir case was one of the most significant and contentious legal battles in India's history. The Supreme Court's verdict sought to balance the interests of all parties involved and aimed at fostering peace and harmony among communities. The case's resolution marks a critical milestone in India's social and religious fabric, promoting mutual respect and understanding among its diverse population.

The Ram Mandir case stands as a landmark judgment in India's legal history, not only for its resolution of a contentious dispute but also for its affirmation of the rule of law and the importance of upholding communal harmony. The judgment brought an end to a decades-long legal battle, though its impact on India's societal fabric and religious tolerance continues to be a subject of debate. The construction of the Ram temple and the fulfillment of the Court's order signify the beginning of a new chapter in the country's socio-religious landscape.

The Ram Mandir case has been one of the most significant and sensitive legal battles in India, encompassing complex historical, religious, and political dimensions. The Supreme Court's verdict in 2019 brought closure to the long-standing dispute by allocating the disputed land to the Hindu parties for the construction of a Ram Mandir and ensuring an alternative plot for the construction of a mosque. The case remains a landmark in India's legal history, highlighting the importance of maintaining communal harmony while resolving religious disputes.