Ram Mandir: Only One Judge to Attend Ayodhya Event, Find Out CJI Chandrachud's Decision

New Delhi: Final preparations for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya, scheduled for tomorrow, have been completed. While five judges who played a crucial role in the historic decision for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya have been invited, only Justice Ashok Bhushan will be present at the event on Monday. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, D.Y. Chandrachud, will remain busy at the Supreme Court and won't be attending the program.

The five judges had delivered the historic verdict in 2019, paving the way for the construction of the temple in Ayodhya. The verdict was announced on November 9, 2019, and following this decision, the construction of the temple was officially sanctioned. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the BJP to a second consecutive victory in the general elections held earlier that year.

The bench that pronounced the historic verdict included Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice S.A. Bobde, Justice Ashok Bhushan, Justice Abdul Nazeer, and former CJI Ranjan Gogoi. However, according to an English newspaper report, CJI Chandrachud, former CJI Gogoi, and Justice Bobde won't be attending the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony for various reasons.

Only Justice Bhushan will be present at Ayodhya

Among the five judges, only Justice Ashok Bhushan will participate in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. Justice Bhushan, who was appointed as the Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) about a month after his retirement on November 8, 2021, expressed his intention to attend this historic event on Sunday.

Former CJI Gogoi won't participate

Justice Gogoi was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha in 2020 and is actively involved in assessing welfare projects in various electoral areas using his parliamentary fund. Additionally, he is engaged in managing various philanthropic activities initiated decades ago by his late mother in Assam. Due to these commitments, he won't be partaking in the upcoming ceremony.

Justice Chandrachud to remain at Supreme Court

Justice Nazeer, the only Muslim judge on the bench, is currently the Governor of Andhra Pradesh and has cited unavailability due to prior commitments. As Monday is a working day at the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Chandrachud will also not be attending the program. However, he has expressed his commitment to continue his judicial duties and not let religious events interfere.

Justice Bobde is leading a retired life in Nagpur and has not provided any information about his participation in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.