New Delhi: In a hearing on the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi dispute in the Supreme Court, the counsel for the Muslim petitioners to the suit on Tuesday took objection to the statements by certain Hindutva leaders that a temple will be constructed in Ayodhya even while the top court was seized of the matter.
Senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for lead petitioner M. Siddiqui represented by his legal heirs, told an apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that “When this case is being argued in the SC, all sides must exercise self-restraint.”
“While the Muslim side has exercised total restraint, some Hindu parties are trying to vitiate the atmosphere by pre-judging the outcome. It is impermissible and amounts to contempt of court. I will caution all of us not to muddy the waters,” Dhavan said as per a report by Times of India
He said that as per the 1994 judgment, there is no constitutional protection for the Muslims’ right to offer prayers whereas the Hindus’ right to offer worship stands at a superior position.
Senior counsel K. Parasaran, appearing for deity Ram Lalla Virajman, contested Dhavan’s contentions by saying ‘the parties to the proceedings are bound by the judgment and they can’t say that “I am party to the proceedings but I question the correctness of a judgment”.
(With IANS inputs)