Ayodhya title suit: The apex court orders mediation to settle the dispute

New Delhi: The Supreme Court, on Friday, ordered mediation to try and work out a peaceful settlement in the centuries old, Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid Ayodhya land dispute case by a three-member panel.

The panel comprising of justice F.M.I Kalifullah, Sri Sri ravi shankar and lawyer Sriram Panchu, will sit at Faizabad and conduct the hearings in confidence.

"There is no legal impediment to mediation," a five judge bench headed by chief justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said.

The panel is directed to report back to the court on any progress within four weeks. Should the talks fail within the scheduled eight weeks within which the court completes paper work for the case, the dispute will be decided by the top court.

The mediation has been used as the last resort to soothe frayed relations between the two major communities Hindus and Muslims after the demolition of the babri masjid-ram janmabhoomi structure, by the court.

The political gain calculates around this dispute has been negated for a while by Supreme Court's mediation move, as the verdict will be given after the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, not benefiting any contesting party.

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on Wednesday had reserved the order after hearing various contesting parties. Where, 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.

The Uttar Pradesh government had opposed to mediation, saying it is not advisable “in the given circumstances”.

The bench, also comprising Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer, had concluded the hearing by asking the parties to suggest names of the mediators in case SC decides in favour of mediation. “We intend to pass the order soon,” it had said.