Stating that Ram Mandir was a ‘sensitive’ and ‘sentimental’ issue, the Supreme Court Of India has said that the matter should be sorted outside the Court through discussion. The Court also added that it would only step in if the matter couldn’t be resolved through talks.
“It is an issue of sentiment and religion. First sit together and sort out. Both sides employ moderators and hold meetings. We can come into the picture if you can’t solve this issue,” said Chief Justice J.S. Khehar, while hearing an urgent appeal from senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.
Swamy had requested the Court to hear an appeal to build the Ram Mandir, a case that has been pending before the Court for 6 years. The Supreme Court had put a freeze on a judgment by the Allahabad High Court that had said there should be a partition of the Ayodhya land between the disputed parties.
The High Court judgement had said that Lord Ram was born under the central dome of the makeshift temple and that Hindus have the right to worship there.
“If you want some principal mediator, we can arrange,” CJI Khehar said, offering to act as a mediator instead of hearing the case on the judicial side.
The proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya has been one of the most controversial and divisive issues facing the country in the last 25 years. In its manifesto, the ruling party which secured a brute majority in the assembly elections has promised to explore all ‘constitutional options’ to ensure the construction of the temple at Ayodhya.
The makeshift temple in Ayodhya came up after Kar Sevaks demolished a masjid that stood on the site in 1992. Muslim groups are opposed to building of the temple at the site. The site was popularly believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram.