Ayodhya: Akhara, Ram Lalla will ‘stand’ or ‘fall’ together: SC

New Delhi: Claiming that both the parties will “stand” or “fall” together, the Supreme Court on Monday said, Hindu body ‘Nirmohi Akhara’ is “unnecessarily” opposing the plea of deity ‘Ram Lalla’ for the title of disputed Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid land.

A five-judge constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, criticised the submission of ‘Akhara’ in which it opposed the plea filed by Ram Lalla saying that being the ‘shebait’ (devotee), only its lawsuit was maintainable. It submitted that the case filed by deity ‘Ram Lalla Virajman’, through next friend Deoki Nandan Agrawal, should not be allowed.

While hearing the arguments on the 12th day of the decades-old, politically sensitive case the bench observed “There is no conflict between your [Akhara’s] suit and the suit filed by plaintiff number 1 (Ram Lalla)… Even if the suit of plaintiff (deity and others) is allowed, your right as ‘shebait’ stands.” Hindustan Times quoted.

The bench, comprising Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer added, “You [Akhara] can claim your ‘shebait’ right independently. Unnecessarily, you are entering into the conflicting territory. It is for Sunni Waqf Board to do that”

Asking the senior advocate Sushil Jain, appearing for ‘Nirmohi Akhara’, that if the lawsuit of the deity was disallowed then for whom will the Akhara be ‘shebait’ of, the bench asked him to apprise it of the view of ‘Akhara’ on Tuesday as to whether it was still seeking dismissal of the lawsuit filed by the deity and others.