Mosque not essential for Islam? SC sets stage for early verdict on Ayodhya

Country's top court refused to refer a dispute between religious groups over the ownership of land in the northern city of Ayodhya to a Constitution bench, setting the stage for the possibility of a verdict on the controversial site before next year’s election.

A majority ruling by a three judge bench headed Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the court will only decide ownership of land and it didn’t see any need to review merits of a 1994 judgment which held that a mosque is not essential to the practice of Islam. Justice Abdul Nazeer dissented and said the matter should be referred to a larger number of judges.

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Hindu groups have said the medieval-era mosque at the disputed site was built over the ruins of a temple that marked the birthplace of their god, Lord Ram. Hindu mobs razed the 16th-century Babri mosque in 1992 triggering riots that killed at least 2,000 people, mostly Muslims. It also marked the emergence of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party as a force in national politics. The ruling BJP promised to build a temple at the disputed site in its 2014 election manifesto. Read Complete Article

Business Standard