Supreme Court Suggests Fresh Attempts To Resolve Ayodhya Dispute

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said fresh attempts must be made by all parties concerned to find a solution to the Ayodhya temple dispute.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India JS Khehar said that such religious issues can be solved through negotiations and 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 also comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and SK Kaul said.

The observations came after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy mentioned the matter seeking urgent hearing of the issue. The matter has been pending for over six years and needed to be heard at the earliest, he added

"You must make fresh attempts to arrive at a consensual decision. If required, you must choose a moderator to end the dispute. If the parties wants me to sit with mediators chosen by both the sides for negotiations, am ready to take up the task. Even the services of my brother judges can be availed for the purpose,” Chief Justice Khehar said.

The bench also proposed appointing a principal negotiator in the matter if the parties so desire. It asked Swamy to consult all parties concerned and inform it about the decision on March 31.

On February 26 last year, the apex court had allowed Swamy to intervene in pending matters relating to the Ayodhya title dispute following his plea seeking the construction of a Ram temple at the site of the demolished disputed structure.

In his petition, Swamy had said that under the practices prevalent in Islamic countries, a mosque could be shifted to any other place for public purposes such as road construction, whereas a temple once constructed cannot be touched.

He had also sought directions to expedite the disposal of several petitions challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict of three-way division of the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya on September 30, 2010.

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