Justice Kalifulla, Sri Sri and Sr Lawyer to mediate in Ayodhya case: Apex Court

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Justice Kalifulla, Sri Sri and Sr Lawyer to mediate in Ayodhya case: Apex Court

The Supreme Court of India said the mediation will begin within a week in Faizabad and the process will be confidential

Friday March 8, 2019 3:16 PM, ummid.com News Network

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India Friday said the Ayodhya dispute will be resolved through mediation and also formed a 3-member mediation panel headed by Justice (Retd) F Ibrahim Kalifulla.

The other members of the Ayodhya dispute mediation panel included Hindu guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Senior Advocate Sriram Panchu.

The Supreme Court of India said the mediation will begin within a week in Faizabad and the process will be confidential.

"The process should be done with “utmost confidentiality,” and should be concluded in eight weeks. The first status report is to be submitted in four weeks", the five-judge bench headed by CJI Gogoi said.

The bench also said the panel of mediators may co-opt more members in case of any difficulty. The media is refrained from publishing the details of the proceedings. “We do not find any legal impediment in referring the matter to mediation,” the bench said.

The Supreme Court of India had on february 26 said that it will explore mediation to end the Ayodhya disput even if there is a slightest chance of success.

The apex court batted for mediation to resolve the Ayodhya dispute saying it could only decide on property and what it was looking at was “a possibility of healing relationships”.

Terming the dispute a matter relating to religion which is "sensitive" and "sentimental", the Supreme Court of India had in March 2017 said fresh attempts must be made by all parties concerned to find a solution through negotiations.

The Supreme Court also offered to mediate to arrive at an amicable settlement.

"These are issues of religion and sentiments. These are issues where all the parties can sit together and arrive at a consensual decision to end the dispute. All of you may sit together and hold a cordial meeting," the bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar and comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul said.

The negotiations however did not take off as both sides involved said they want the court to take a call.

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