New Delhi: The Nirmohi Akhara, one of the main petitioners from the Hindu side in the Ayodhya title dispute case, filed a review plea in the Supreme Court Wednesday, seeking clarity on its role in the construction of the Ram temple.
The Akhara made it clear that it “welcomes” the court’s 9 November verdict that allowed a Ram temple to built on the disputed site in Ayodhya, but said it wanted to challenge certain findings.
In its unanimous verdict, the Supreme Court had invoked Article 142 of the Constitution to hand over the disputed land to a trust to be formed by the central government in the next three months, under the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, 1993.
It had directed that the Nirmohi Akhara be assigned “an appropriate role” in the trust for framing of the scheme for the construction of the Ram temple.
In its review petition, the Akhara has now sought clarity on the nature of its role and representation in the trust, “to avoid any future disputes”.
Among the Supreme Court’s findings challenged is that the court had said the Nirmohi Akhara was not a shebait or devotee of the deity Ram Lalla. Also, the Akhara’s petition stated that the court, by allowing the central government to set up a trust without any guidelines, “has opened an avenue for the government to violate the Religious mannerisms of the temple which has been in existence at least for 300 years”.
The petition also makes it clear that the Akhara does not challenge the allotment of an alternate site to Muslims for the construction of a mosque, stating that this was “also a welcome direction to maintain balance and a congenial atmosphere and harmony between the two communities”.
Restoration of other temples
In its petition, the Nirmohi Akhara has also demanded the restoration of other temples it owned and managed outside the disputed plot, but within the surrounding land acquired by the government — such as Sumitra Bhawan (birthplace of Lord Laxman), Sita Koop Mandir, the outer courtyard, including Ram Chabutra, Sita Rasoi, Bhandara, cave temple and Shiva Darbar.
In-chamber hearing
The Nirmohi Akhara plea, along with nine other review petitions, will be considered by the Supreme Court in chambers at 1:40 pm Thursday.
The bench will comprise of Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and Justices D.Y. Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan, S. Abdul Nazeer and Sanjiv Khanna.
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