Ayodhya land dispute: SC to wrap up hearing on October 17
New Delhi, Oct 4: The Supreme Court Friday said it would wrap up hearing in the politically sensitive Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute at Ayodhya by October 17, a day sooner than the earlier schedule.
A 5-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, on the conclusion of 37th day of the hearing, fixed the schedule for the final leg of the lengthy arguments.
The Muslim side would complete the arguments on October 14, it said, adding that thereafter, two days would be granted to the Hindu parties to sum up their rejoinders -- October 16.
October 17 would be the last day for wrapping up the hearing when the parties will have to make the final arguments about the relief they are seeking, the court said.
The bench, also comprising justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer, had earlier fixed the deadline of October 18 to conclude the hearing.
The judgement in the matter is to be pronounced by November 17, the day the CJI will retire.
The bench gave an extra hour every day to the hearing this week, during which it did not allow the counsel for the parties to deviate from the time slot allotted to them.
The top court also warned the parties that no fresh evidence would be allowed to be placed before it and all the parties have to strictly make their rejoinders on the basis of the records and submissions made before the Allahabad High Court.
The apex court on September 26 had asked both Hindu and Muslim parties to specify the time-frame for completing arguments in the matter and had said that there will not be any extra day for hearing after October 18 -- the deadline it had set on September 18.
It had said that there are holidays in October for Dussehra and Diwali and only one advocate of the four Hindu parties will be allowed to give the rejoinder arguments.
The apex court had on August 6 commenced day-to-day proceedings in the case as the mediation proceedings initiated to find the amicable resolution had failed.
The court had taken note of the report of the three-member panel, also comprising spiritual guru and founder of the Art of Living foundation Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate and renowned mediator Sriram Panchu, that mediation proceedings, which went on for about four months, did not result in any final settlement and it had to decide the matter pending before it.
The court, which had on March 8 referred the matter for mediation, had asked for in-camera proceedings to be completed within eight weeks, but later granted time till August 15 after the panel's earlier report said the mediators were "optimistic" about an amicable solution.
The top court fixed the seat for mediation process in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, around 7 km from Ayodhya, and said adequate arrangements, including the venue of the mediation, place of stay of the mediators, their security, travel should be forthwith arranged by the state government.
It had perused a report about the progress of mediation process till July 18 and said its contents will remain confidential.
Fourteen appeals have been filed in the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77-acre land in Ayodhya be partitioned equally among the three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
On December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid, constructed at the disputed site in the 16th century by Shia Muslim Mir Baqi, was demolished, sparking communal riots in the country.
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Saffron shawls not allowed in schools in K'taka, clarifies CM Siddaramaiah
Mysuru (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday clarified that saffron shawls would not be allowed in educational institutions under the state government’s order on religious symbols, while practices already in existence such as hijab, turbans, rudraksha beads and sacred threads (Janeu) would continue to be permitted.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, the Chief Minister clarified that those religious attire which are in practice will be allowed.
The Karnataka government on Wednesday passed an order allowing students to wear Hijab, sacred thread, Shivadhara, Rudraksha in schools. The order scrapped the BJP government’s 2022 order, banning Hijab in government schools following the Hijab versus saffron shawl controversy.
The opposition flayed the move and termed it "appeasement politics".
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A section of Hindu right wing organisations even threatened to wear saffron shawls in the schools.
Now the Chief Minister has clarified that saffron shawls will not be permitted.
“Saffron shawls are not allowed. Those shawls cannot be worn. Turbans, sacred thread, Shiva dhara, rudraksha, and hijab can also be worn,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
“See, it is not just the hijab. People can also wear sacred threads, Shivadhara rudraksha beads — everyone can wear things according to their beliefs. This is allowed up to Class 12, whether it is high school, college or primary school. It applies to all.”
Asked whether saffron turbans representing saffron identity would be permitted, the Chief Minister said only practices already in existence would be allowed and no new practices could be introduced.
“When we say turbans, we mean practices that already exist. Nothing new can be introduced. Only those practices and beliefs that already exist till now are allowed,” he said.
Responding to questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi reducing his convoy to conserve diesel, Siddaramaiah said such measures would only have a temporary effect. “What the Prime Minister has said is not the right step. Instead, it would be better to speak with other countries and bring awareness and consciousness among them,” he said.
Replying to questions on the controversy surrounding the NEET examination, Siddaramaiah criticised the conduct of the exam and said students should not suffer because of lapses in the system. “Look, we conducted CET, and they introduced NEET. If they fail to conduct it properly, what will happen to the students who studied hard and wrote the exam? What about their future?” he asked.
