New Delhi: The Supreme Court on February 13 refused to take up before February 21
the Centre's plea for hearing its application on the vacation of apex court's order
banning any kind of religious activity in the 77 acres of land in Ayodhya acquired
by the government after the demolition of the disputed structure in 1992.
Solicitor General Kirit Rawal mentioned the matter before a Bench comprising Chief
Justice V N Khare, Justice S P Sinha and Justice A R Lakshamanan and requested the
court to hear the government's plea at the earliest.
However, the court enquired as to when the matter has been listed and on being told
it was for February 21, the court said it should come on that date.
The "dharam sansad", organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to chalk out plans
for temple construction if the government failed to hand over the undisputed land to
the Parishad, is slated for February 22.
The Centre had moved the court on February 4 within hours of Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee meeting Kanchi Shankaracharya who had last year played a crucial
role in the Ayodhya issue by holding negotiations with the parties involved in the
dispute.
The government application sought vacation of the apex court's March 13, 2002 order,
by which on the eve of the controversial "shiladaan" ceremony organised by the VHP,
the court had banned any "kind of religious activity, including shiladaan, on the
acquired undisputed land".
Seeking an early hearing of a petition filed by Mohammad Aslam alias Bhure on which
the Supreme Court had passed the interim stay order, the government said as peace
prevailed in the area, the ban order could be lifted.
PTI
