New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday deferred the commencement of final hearing in the Ramjanmbhoomi - Babri Masjid case to 8th February 2018.
The bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice S Abdul Nazeer adjourned the hearing.
Babri Masjid, the 17th century historic mosque, was demolished in broad day light by Hindutva extremists who were led by senior RSS, VHP and BJP leaders, on December 06, 1992.
Today's court move came a day before 25th anniversary of the tragic incident.
Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, who is representing the Sunni Waqf Board, while citing political ramifications urged the court to hear the matter only in July 2019 after the Lok Sabha polls.
However, the court rejected his plea.
Along with Sibal, appellant Muslim parties questioned the reason for hearing the case now. They also wondered if there was some kind of ‘hurry’, the Indian Express reported.
The counsels for the petitioners also want a larger bench of 7 judges to hear the matter.
Petitioners pleaded for reasonable time to translate, file and serve the copies of all the exhibits and relevant documents, which were filed before the Allahabad High Court bench at Lucknow.
Kapil Sibal, who is representing the Sunni Waqf Board’s counsel Kapil Sibal told the apex court that he and other petitioners have not been provided with all relevant documents.
Countering Sibal’s arguments, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta, representing the state of Uttar Pradesh, told the top court that all the related documents and requisite translation copies are on record.
The court instructed all the advocates appearing for all the parties to work in harmony and see that all the relevant documents are ready and filed, Live Mint reported.
On September 30, 2010, the Allahabad High Court while delivering its verdict in the Ayodhya dispute distributed the 2.77 acres of the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi site into three parts, giving each to Nirmohi Akhara sect, the Sunni Central Wakf Board, UP, and Ramlalla Virajman.
However, the order was challenged before the Supreme Court on May 9, 2011.
The Supreme Court while staying the operation of the decree ordered status quo of the land and other adjoining areas acquired by the Centre in 1993.
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