Ayodhya-Babri Case: Hearing Likely To Conclude By Oct 18; Parties Can Have Parallel Mediation Talks, Says SC [Read Order]

The advocates appearing for the parties in the Ayodhya-Babri Masjid title dispute case submitted to the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court a tentative timeline for conclusion of the arguments.

Perusing the same, the bench said that the hearing of the case could be concluded by October 18.

Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who is heading the Bench, is set to retire on November 17. Thereofore, the tentative date of conclusion of hearing will give the bench nearly a month's time for writing the judgment.

The CJI said that special sitting could be held on Saturdays, if required.

The bench also considered the letter sent by the mediation panel seeking orders on the requests made by some parties in the case for resuming the settlement talks.

On the request, the CJI said that the parties may pursue mediation talks before the panel simultaneously. Mediation will continue to be confidential, while the court proceedings will continue. The settlement, if any, may be placed before the court by the panel.

"The hearing is at an advanced stage, it will continue. But parties are free to resort to mediation simultaneously, to resolve the dispute", said the CJI.

The request for resumption of mediation talks was made by Nirvani Akhara and Sunni Waqf Board.

The three member panel constituted by the Court comprising former SC judge Justice F M Kalifulla, 'Art of Living' founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Senior Advocate and acclaimed mediator Sriram Panchu had filed a memo in the SC on Monday seeking directions of the said request.

The Constitution Bench comprising CJI Gogoi, Justices Bobde, Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and Abdul Nazeer has completed 25 days of hearing in the case so far. The daily hearing of the case started on Augsut 6, after the Court declared mediation to be a failure.

The Hindu parties of the case - Nirmohi Akhara, original plaintiff G S Visharad, and the deity through its next friend - have concluded their arguments. The Court is at present hearing the Sunni Waqf Board, which is represented by Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhavan.

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