Rare that a five-member Bench of SC has remained unanimous on a major case: Experts

Samikhsya Bureau

New Delhi : The country seemed to have heaved a sigh of relief on Saturday as the first twelve hours have passed off peacefully with general cautioning and restrains from all quarters since the delivery of the historic judgement on Ayodhya land dispute. Legal experts also it is rare that in a five judges bench of the Supreme Court, there is a complete ‘unanimity’ on all vital points and more importantly the verdict has able to resolve India’s longest running dispute for centuries.

“This judgment has resolved the longest running legal dispute of India….It is very rare that in a five judges bench of the Supreme Court, there is a complete unanimity on all vital points,” counsel Aman Sinha said. Mr Sinha represented All India Arya Samaj in the litigation.”All five Judges need to be congratulated and commended for having adjudicated a dispute which was the oldest legal dispute,” said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who had represented the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government in the title dispute.

The first recorded incidents of communal violence related to Ayodhya dispute was in 1853 and first court case perhaps came in 1859. In 1885, Nirmohi Akhara in a Suit No. 61/280 of 1885 filed in the Court of the Faizabad Sub Judge against the Secretary of State for India then based in London.However, Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board’s Zafaryab Jilani said he was “dissatisfied” with the verdict and added – “The verdict has lot of contradictions”,” senior advocate Jilani said.

Congress leader and advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in a brief analysis circulated to media: “The court must be publicly applauded for this unanimous approach which sends out its own clear and significant message to all segments of Indian society. It also immeasurably enhances the strength and weight of the judgment”. “Second, the only correct, efficacious and lasting solution to this highly divisive issue is a binding judgment of the apex court. Neither the best intentioned mediation, nor any bonafide government or a responsible opposition can achieve the quietus and finality which a reasoned apex court judgment can,” he said.

“The very fact that it is a unanimous judgment is being under appreciated. It is in itself a strong message. No judgment can satisfy everybody. The verdict will close doors of politicising the issue”. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the verdict has able to reinforce and reaffirm the faith and trust of a common man in the law and in the judiciary as an esteemed instiution.Sharing similar sentiment P S Narasimha, who had appeared for ‘Ram Lalla’ said – “The faith of Hindus has been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court verdict”.

Meanwhile, the Nirmohi Akhara, who was given one-third of the land share in 2010 Allahabad High Court, said: “We are happy that the apex court has accepted Ram Lalla’s side ……We have no regrets”. Nirmohi Akhara is a group of Hindu ascetics who are devotees of ‘sole’ Maryada Purusottam Rama. The name of the organisation roughly translated would mean – “a body without attachment and illusion”.BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in a missive wrote: “Only when Lord Rama wanted, the green light for re-building the temple is being given. Jai Shri Ram.” He also demanded Bharat Ratna for the deceased VHP leader Ashok Singhal.

Meanwhile sources said Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind may not be in favour of filing a review petition against the verdict but All India Muslim Personal Law Board A known BJP-baiter and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the ruling saying “the Supreme Court is supreme…and final but not infallible.” However, the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board, one of the main litigants in the Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid case, welcomed the Supreme Court verdict.

Taking a similar line, the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid in Delhi, Syed Ahmed Bukhari said the matter should not be stretched further. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Jamiat President Maulana Arshad Madani also urged Muslims to not be disappointed. (With input UNI)