Fresh twist to Ayodhya case as rift emerges in Sunni Waqf Board

New Delhi: The protracted Ayodhya case whose 40-day hearing ended on Monday is witnessing a fresh twist.

Rifts have emerged among the Sunni Waqf Board, one of the stakeholders in the land dispute case.  

Part of the board claims that they are ready for settlement while the other contests title on the disputed land, news agency IANS reported.

On one hand, Rajiv Dhavan, Sunni Waqf Board counsel and senior advocate strongly argued the claim of the ownership over the period of the 40-day hearing.

On the other hand, Advocate on Record Shahid Rizvi said that the parties involved in the Ayodhya title dispute have reached a settlement and thus, there will be no requirement for a judgement.

The Nirmohi Akhara, has, however, rubbished the claims on mediation. Spokesperson Kartick Chopra said that it seems that a rift has emerged in the Waqf board.

He said that the fresh report on mediation will not make a difference as the court has already reserved its judgement.

Rizvi said once a case before the court, parties involved in the matter are entitled to present the case in the best possible manner.

"If the court has a feeling that the case can be settled by mediation, it should not be ignored," he said.

Rizvi said that the top court has itself shown interest that it can be settled by mediation.

In 2011, two appeals were file by the board -- the main lawsuit and the Ram Lalla lawsuit.

Rizvi's claim was denied by the counsel representing the Board in the top court.

A mediation was appointed in March to settle the issue but when it failed to achieve its goal, the top court agreed to hear the arguments of all parties.

The day to day hearing began on August 6 and the court reserved its order on October 16.

The SC, in the middle of September, opened the doors for mediation on the behest of Muslim parties. However, Ram Lalla and Nirmohi Akhara did not participate in the second round of mediation.

Rizvi claimed that the court-appointed mediation panel had filed a report in the apex court based on terms and conditions on which parties include the Waqf Board, Nirvani Akhara and three other Hindu parties. According to him, the report was filed on Wednesday morning.

However, Shakil Ahmed, another on-record advocate for Sunni Waqf Board said that the leak to the press may have been inspired by the mediation committee directly ot by those who participated in the said mediation proceedings or participants.

Lawyers for the Sunni Waqf Board said that such a leak was in total violation of the Supreme court as the top court had ordered the proceedings to be confidential.