BW In-depth: All You Need To Know About Ayodhya Land Dispute

What is the Ayodhya land Dispute?

According to Hindu beliefs, it is considered that a temple was built in the early medieval era to commemorate the birthplace of Lord Rama. In 1528, under the orders of Babur, Army General Mir Baq demolished the temple and built a mosque over it. The debate over the history of disputed site and weather a temple was demolished or modified to create a mosque is known as Ayodhya Dispute.

How did it start?

1528: Army General Mir Baqi gets victory over Ayodhya and made a Mosque. It was a ruling period of Babur and many believe that it was ordered by Babur itself and hence it was called Babari Masjid. There is also the clash of thoughts here as Hindu claims that since it was made by demolishing Hindu temple, therefore, it was earlier called Masjid-e-Janmsthan.

1853: It is believed that for centuries, Muslims worshipped inside the Mosque while Hindus continued worshipping the Janmbhumi on Ram Chabutra which was situated very nearby and outside of the mosque. People say that the first time in the Ayodhya dispute occurred in 1853. People say that the first time in the Ayodhya dispute occurred in 1853. From then on, the controversy started catching up.

1859: The clash and riots were observed by Britishers and they fenced the area into two different parts to separate the place of worship.

1885: This was the first time when the issue had legalized. Mahant Raghubar Das pleaded in the Faizabad court to build the temple on the Ram Chabutra. The court had denied the request.

1949: There were rumours doing the round over the night of 22-23 December that idol of Ramlala (infant Rama) appeared inside the mosque. The clash between both communities was observed and the district magistrate of the area took control over the disputed site.

1950: Gopal Simla Visharad filed a petition in the Faizabad district court seeking the right to worship the idols of Ramlala. Similarly, Mahant Ramchandra Das also appealed to the court for continuing their prayers in the disputed site and the court rejected both the pleas.

1959: Nirmohi Akhada filed a case for control over the disputed site.

1961: Sunni Wakf Board went court for the removal of the idol of Ramlala and control over the disputed site.

1984: Earlier it was just a judicial matter but after 1984 the issue started politicizing. Vishwa Hindu Parishad organized Dharma Sansad to bring the issue on national politics. Later on, it was supported by BJP which was come into existence in 1982 after separating from Jan Sangh.

1986: Local court orders the government to open the site for Hindu worshippers. There was no delay in following this decision and the lock was opened within 24 hours. The protest from other communities started and thereafter, Babri Masjid Action Committee was formed.

- VHP started a campaign called “Karsevak” which means voluntary service for making of the temple.

- VHP also organized a rally called “Ram Janki Rath Yatra” in Ayodhya.

1989: The Lucknow bench of Allahabad court adjudicated all petition regarding the dispute and ordered: “status quo to be maintained”.

- VHP started “Shilanyas” at the site which was supported by Rajiv Gandhi due to elections. They collected bricks from all over India and Shree Rama was written on it. The VHP laid the foundation of a Ram Mandir on the land next to the Babri Masjid.

- Rajiv Gandhi Government lost the election mainly due to charges of corruption in the Bofors deal. VP Singh leading national front makes the government with the support of BJP and left parties.

1990: Rath Yatra started by LK Advani from Somnath to Ayodha (nearly 10,000 km). It was started on September 25 and it was supposed to end on October 30. The Rath was stopped on October 23 and Advani was arrested in Samastipur (Bihar). It was ordered by erstwhile Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. After this incidence, BJP withdrew the support from the centre.

- As already decided, people gathered in Ayodhya on 30th and tried to break the mosque, but then Chief Minister Mulayam Singh does not let this happen.

1992: The Babri Masjid was demolished on December 6. Kalyan Singh was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh at that time. Many believe that this has happened under the wishes of Kalyan Singh. He took the responsibility and resigned from the post very next day.

- The Liberhan Commission was set up by the Government of India to investigate the demolition of the disputed structure Babri Masjid. It was led by retired High Court Judge M. S. Liberhan. The commission took 17 years including 48 extensions and submitted the report in June 2009.

- The Report holds 68 people culpable including many senior leaders like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Kalyan Singh among many others.

2002: The High Court begins proceedings to decide the ownership of the disputed site.

2003: Supreme Court said in Aslam Alias Bhure case, no religious activity is allowed at the site acquired.

- The High court ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to carryout excavation on the disputed site.

- ASI submitted the report and called it a shrine place. They point out a large Hindu complex around the 10th and 11th centuries. Pillars, walls, graves and many other things were also founded by ASI.

2010: Allahabad High Court gave the verdict of the disputed site between Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla with 2:1 majority. The disputed area of 2.77 acres was divided into 3 parts.

- Ramlala (Ram Janmbhoomi Nyaas) got the central shrine where idols were places.

- Nirmohi Akhara got Sita Rasoi and Ram Chabutra.

- Sunni Wakf Board got the rest of the area.

2011: Supreme Court stays Allahabad High Court judgment on Ayodhya case dispute.

2016: Subramanian Swamy files plea in the Supreme Court seeking construction of Ram Temple at the disputed land.

2017: CJI JS Khehar suggested an out-of-court settlement between the parties concerned.

- Supreme Court constitutes a three-member bench that will hear petitions challenging the 1994 Allahabad High Court verdict.

- The Uttar Pradesh Shia Central Waqf Board told the Supreme Court that a mosque could be built in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the disputed site.

- Supreme Court directs the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court to appoint two additional district judges within ten days to monitor the status quo of the contested site.

- Thirty-two civil rights activists file a plea challenging the 2010 verdict of the Allahabad HC.

2018: The Supreme Court dismissed all interim arguments, including Swamy, seeking to intervene as parties in the case.

- Rajiv Dhawan filed a petition in the Supreme Court, urging to send the issue of reconsideration to the comments of the 1994 judgment to a larger bench.

- The Supreme Court refused to refer the case to a five-member constitution bench. The matter was heard by a three-member new bench on October 29.

-Supreme Court refused to hear the petitions of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha.

2019: Supreme Court sets up a five-judge Constitutional Bench to hear the case headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices S A Bobde, N V Ramana, U U Lalit, and D Y Chandrachud.

- After the Supreme Court-appointed arbitration panel failed to provide any fruitful results on August 6, the court took it upon itself to hear the dispute. The court heard the case on a daily basis and completed the marathon process after 40 days on October 16.

- Supreme Court completes hearing and reserves verdict on October 16.

- November 9 (The D-Day): The Constitution Bench headed by the Chief Justice, Ranjan Gogoi will deliver the much-awaited verdict in the extremely debated Ayodhya land dispute case.