SC orders court-monitored mediation in Ayodhya dispute, forms 3 member panel

New Delhi: The Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench referred Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for court appointed and monitored mediation for a “permanent solution”.

The Supreme Court stated that mediation proceedings should be held on-camera.

The court also ordered that the reporting of the mediation proceedings in media will be banned and proceedings will be confidential.

“Mediation process will be held in Faizabad. It will be headed by Justice FM Kaliifullah and also comprise Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu,” CJI Ranjan Gogoi said.

The top court said Justice Khaliifulah (Retd) will be the chairman, for court appointed and monitored mediation.

Supreme Court ordered that mediation proceedings has to start within 4 weeks and should be completed within 8 weeks.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi pronounced the verdict. The other judges on the bench were justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and SA Nazeer.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its order after hearing both sides on the proposal to try out mediation as an alternative to litigation to settle the decades-old dispute.