No Larger Bench; Decks cleared for Faster Ayodhya Verdict

ONI Bureau:  Just before his retirement, CJI Dipak Mishra delivered a historic verdict along with Justice Ashok Bhushan, rejecting the plea that sought to refer the Ayodhya land dispute case to larger bench. With this, decks have been cleared for a quicker final verdict in Ayodhya case.

The main title suit will be heard by the CJI-led three-member SC bench from October 29. It is expected that the final verdict will be pronounced by December 2018.

In 1994, the Supreme Court said that namaz could be offered anywhere and that a mosque was not necessary for this. The SC in a 2-1 verdict, has upheld that Ismail Farooqui judgement. Justice Nazeer differed with CJI Dipak Misra and Justice Ashok Bhushan wanted to refer the case to a five-member Constitutional Bench.

It can be recalled that that 1994 judgement played a big role in the disputed land in Ayodhya being divided in 2010 into three parts by the Allahabad High Court. While the land was split between Hindu and Muslim parties, the main part was given to the Hindus.