New Delhi: Supreme Court on March 31 dismissed the Union government 's application
seeking vacation of its order prohibiting religious activities on the 67 acres
undisputed land around the 2.77 acres disputed site at Ayodhya.
A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice S Rajendra Babu said, "We are of
the view that the Supreme Court's March 13/14, 2002 order should be operative till
the Allahabad High Court disposes the title suits."
The Court said that the Union government's application required to be rejected "not
only to maintain communal harmony but also to fulfil other obligations".
This order came on an application filed by the Union government on a pending
petition filed by Mohammad Aslam alias Bhure.
The Allahabad High Court at present is hearing rival suites claiming
ownership of the 2.77 acres disputed land and has ordered excavation by
Archaeological Survey of India to determine whether a temple pre-existed the
Babri masjid.
The Centre had filed this application seeking vacation of the March 13-14
ban order saying there was a vast difference between the situation
prevailing last year and at present.
The government has also indicated that as par the 1994 order of the Supreme
Court, the Centre was free to hand over the management of the undisputed
land to a trust or a registered body after making adequate provisions for
the access to the disputed site.
However, all the Muslim bodies- All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Babri
Masjid Action Committee and Babri Masjid Movement Coordination Committee-
had opposed the Centre's
application saying it has not pointed out any change in the ground situation
at Ayodhya to seek alteration in the last year's status quo order.
PTI
