Centre moves SC, seeks permission to return excess land of Babri Masjid

New Delhi: The central government on Tuesday moved Supreme Court urging it to grant permission for returning the 67-odd acres of land it had acquired around the 2.77 acre disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land to original owners.

The Centre said Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas has sought return of the excess land, acquired in 1991, to original owners.

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As per the government, the surplus land will be used to provide entry and exit paths to the wrangled site. It said that it doesn't want that whosoever wins the title suit is barred of entry and exit (to the disputed site) because of lack of release of the said land.

Centre said the SC, while refusing permission for 'shila pujan' ceremony at Ayodhya for Ram temple in 2003, had ordered maintenance of status quo on both the disputed land and the 67-odd acres of acquired land. It added that since the 67-odd acres of land, majority of which is claimed to have been with Ram Janam Bhoomi Nyas, is undisputed, and hence, it could be released to original owners.

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The Union government recalled that the apex court in Ismail Faruqui judgment had said that the government could consider returning the 67-odd acres of acquired land surrounding the disputed land after the Allahabad High Court judgment on civil suits.

The government 's perception is that keeping the excess land in its control will be a sheer waste and will not serve a good purpose hence it would be better to return the surplus land to original owners.

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