Ram Mandir is a Hindu Temple which is built on the sacred pilgrimage ground of Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya. Ayodhya has observed a melange of historical, cultural, religious and political events. Since November 9, 1989 then the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) conducted a Shilanyas to August 5, 2020 when the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay a 22.6 kg silver brick to begin the construction of the Ram Temple.
The ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ ceremony embarks the beginning of the construction of Ram Mandir in the sacred pilgrimage site. Last year in November, the Supreme Court gave the permission for the construction of Ram Mandir by the Trust on the disputed land of the Babri Masjid. The verdict said that the alternative 5-acre plot has been allowed to Sunni Waqf Board for building a new mosque in the holy town of Uttar Pradesh.
Here is a timeline of what happened in Ram Mandir Case:
- In 1528 Mir Baqi, commander of Mughal emperor Babur built Babri Masjid.
- In 1885, a plea was filed in Faizabad district court by the Mahant Raghubir Das seeking the permission to build a canopy outside the Babri Masjid structure. The plea was rejected by the court.
- The idols of Ram Lalla was positioned under a central dome in 1949 outside the disputed structure.
- A suit was filed by the Gopal Simla Visharad in 1950, in the Faizabad district court in order to seek approval to worship the idols of Ram Lalla.
- Again in 1950 a suit was filed by Paramahansa Ramachandra Das for the prolongation to keep the idols and continue to worship them.
- In 1959, a suit was filed by the Nirmohi Akhara to seek the possession of the site.
- Again in 1961, the same suit was file asking for the possession of the site by the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board.
- In February 1, 1986 Rajiv Gandhi was serving as the Prime Minister when the decision was taken by the local courts ordering the government to unlock the site for Hindu seers.
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- In 1989, a title suit represented by “next friend” was filed by Bhagwan Shri Ramlalla Virjman at Sri Ram Janam Bhoomi Ayodhya, Asthan Sri Ram at Janam Bhoomi Ayodhya. The former judge of the Allahabad High Court, Deoki Nandan Agarwala was in-charge.
- Allahabad High Court in August 14,1989 ordered for the maintenance of the status quo of the disputed structure.
- A Rath Nath was organised in September 25, 1990 by BJP leader LK Advani from Somnath in Gujarat.
- Karsevaks in December 6,1992 demolished the Babri Masjid.
- A acquisition of Land named “Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act” was passed by the Centre in the disputed area in April 3, 1993. Writ petitions were also filed, also it included one by Ismail Faruqui, filed in Allahabad HC challenging various aspects of the Act. Under Article 139A jurisdiction, the Supreme Court transferred the writ petitions, which were awaiting in the High Court.
- The Supreme Court in October 24, 1994 said that the mosque was not integral to Islam in the historic Ismail Faruqui case.
- In April,2002 the High Court commenced with the hearings in order to determine who has the ownership of the disputed site.
- On March 13, 2003 Supreme Court mentioned that no religious activity of any nature be allowed at the acquired land in the Aslam alias Bhure case.
- The Allahabad High Court on September 30, 2010 in a 2:1 majority rules three-way division of the disputed site between Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
- On May 9, 2011 Supreme Court was in favour of the High Court verdict regarding the Ayodhya land dispute.
- CJI JS Khehar, on March 21, 2017 recommended for out-of-court settlement amongst the rival parties.
- On August 7, 2017 a three judge bench was constituted by Supreme Court to apprehend pleas challenging the 1994 verdict of the Allahabad High Court.
- On August 8, 2017 UP Shia Central Waqf Board apprised the Supreme Court that the mosque can be built in a Muslim dominated area at a rational distance from the disputed area.
- Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court on September 11, 2017 was directed by Supreme Court to nominate two additional district judges within the time span of ten days as an observer to dispense with the ongoing issue of the disputed site.
- UP Shia Central Waqf Board, on November 20, 2017 advised the Supreme Court that the mandir can be built in Ayodhya whereas the mosque can be built in Lucknow.
- On December 1, 2017 thirty two civil rights activist filed a plea challenging the verdict given in 2010 by the Allahabad HC.
- Supreme Court commenced with the civil appeals hearing from February 8, 2018.
- March 14, 2018 is the day when Supreme Court rejected all the interim pleas trying to intervene as parties in the case.
- Rajeev Dhavan on April 6, 2017 filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking to refer the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgment to a larger bench.
- On July 20, 2018 Supreme Court reserved its verdict.
- On September 27, 2018 the Supreme Court declined the case to a five-judge Constitution bench. Also, the Supreme Court announced that the case will be heard by a newly constituted three-judge bench on October 29.
- October 29, 2018 the Supreme Court moored the case for the first week of January. As an appropriate bench needs to be decided which will further decide the schedule of the hearing.
- On December 24, 2018 Supreme Court announced that the petitions on the case for the hearing will began from January 4, 2019.
- Supreme Court on January 4, 2019 said a pertinent bench has been constituted and an order will be passes on January 10 to fix the date of the hearing in the title case.
- A five judge Constitution Bench was formed by Supreme Court on January 8, 2019 which included Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and it also comprised of Justices S A Bobde, N V Ramana, U U Lalit and D Y Chandrachud.
- On January 10, 2019 Supreme Court was prompted by Justice U U Lalit to reschedule the hearing for January 29 before the new bench.
- Supreme Court on January 25, 2018 reconstituted with five member Constitution Bench to proceed with the case. The new bench incorporated Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer.
- On January 29, 2018 the Centre moved to Supreme Court to seek permission to restore the 67 acres disputed land to the original owners.
- Supreme Court on February 20, 2019 decided to have the next hearing of the case on February 26, 2019.
- On February 26, 2019 Supreme Court allocated the date March 5, 2019 for oder on whether the matter should be reared to the court-appointed mediator. Supreme Court also favoured meditation.
- Supreme Court on March 6, 2019 took into consideration that whether the land dispute can be settled through mediation.
- On April 9, 2019 Nirmohi Akhara opposed Centre’s plea about retiring the acquired land in Ayodha to the original owners.
- The three member mediation committee on My 9, 2019 submitted the interim report to the Supreme Court.
- On July 18, 2019 Supreme Court gave a green flag to the meditation process and the permission to continue with the same. Also it seemed for the outcome report by August 1, 2019.
- Supreme Court on August 1, 2019 received the meditation report in a sealed cover.
- Supreme Court on August 6, 2019 commenced with daily basis hearing on the land dispute case.
- On October 16,2019 Supreme Court concluded the hearing.
- On November 9, 2019 Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi lead a five-judge Supreme Court Bench and ruled in favour of Ram Lalla. It was also mentioned that the Centre should allot an alternative 5 acre plot of the disputed land to Sunni Waqf Board for building a new mosque at a “prominent” place Ayodhya.
- Supreme Court on December 12, dissolved a batch of petitions seeking to review the Ayodhya land dispute case verdict again.
- On February 5, 2020 the Prime Minister made an announcement in the Lok Sabha that an approval from the Union Cabinet came for setting up of the Trust. The Trust, was named Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra, the work assigned to the trust was to take decisions regarding the construction of the Ram Mandir and issues related to it. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi said, “to maintain the sanctity of Ayodhya and for the construction of the temple, keeping in mind the needs of crores of devotees.”
- Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board on February 24, 2020 accepted the five acres allotment by the state government. The mosque will be built in Dhannipur village in Sohawal tehsil of Ayodhya.
- Lastly, on August 5, 2020 the Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. According to the trust the temple will be ready in another six months or within a year.
