National

Ayodhya dispute: Supreme Court orders mediation; appoints a panel of mediators

New Delhi | The Supreme Court today ordered mediation for a “permanent solution” in the Ayodhya Ramjanmabhoomi Title dispute.

The Constitutional bench also appointed a three bench panel of mediators which will be headed by Justice Khalifulah (Retd). The other member of the three bench panel also includes Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Senior Advocate Sriram Panchu. The constitutional bench also barred media from reporting mediation proceedings, which are to be held confidentially.

The Apex court said, “utmost confidentiality” should be maintained to ensure the success of mediation proceedings. “The mediation proceedings will be held in Faizabad and process to start within a week,” the court added. Also the bench directed that the mediation proceedings shall be completed within 8 weeks.

“The entire mediation process will be under in camera proceedings,” directed the top court. The constitutional bench also suggested the panel of mediators that they can co-opt more members and in case of any difficulty they can inform apex court registry

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on Wednesday had reserved the order after hearing various contesting parties. Hindu bodies except Nirmohi Akhara have opposed the suggestion of the apex court to refer the issue for mediation, while Muslim bodies have supported it.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the case was not only about property but also about sentiment and faith. “It is not only about property. It is about mind, heart and healing, if possible,” the bench also comprising Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer said.

The top court had asked the contesting parties to explore the possibility of amicably settling the decades-old dispute through mediation, saying it may help in “healing relations”.

Fourteen 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.

Dear Readers,
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
Some error occurred

Related posts

International

China to fight ‘for legitimate rights’ of Huawei and others

TestHostEntry

Beijing | China’s foreign minister slammed US accusations against telecom giant Huawei and said Beijing will take “all necessary measures” to defend the “legitimate rights” of the country’s companies and individuals.

Wang Yi’s remarks came as the US has pressed charges against the company and a top executive over violations of Iran sanctions while warning Western allies to shun the firm over security fears.

“It’s quite obvious to any fair and unbiased person that the recent action against a particular company and Chinese individual is not just a pure judicial case but deliberate political suppression,” Wang said at a news conference.

“We have already and will continue to take all necessary steps, and resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies and citizens,” Wang said, without explaining what kind of measures Beijing would take.

Wang’s remarks come as Huawei is mounting a legal and public relations campaign to counter US warnings that the company’s networks and equipment could serve as Trojan horses for Chinese intelligence services.

Huawei announced on Thursday that it had filed a lawsuit in the US state of Texas to seek the reversal of legislation that prevents American federal agencies from buying its equipment and services. Wang voiced support for Huawei’s lawsuit, saying the company should not be a “silent lamb to the slaughter”.

Huawei is fighting back after Canada arrested its chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, in December at the behest of the United States over charges that she violated Iran sanctions.

Related posts