Ayodhya dispute: SC grants 3 months for translation of historic documents, final hearing on Dec 5

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday granted three months time to authorities to complete translation of historic documents related to the several decades old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute. The apex court passed the order after the Sunni Waqf Board informed it that the translation of historic documents related to the dispute is not complete yet. The order came shortly after the apex court resumed hearing in the Ayodhya land dispute case. The highest court also posted the matter for further hearing till December 5. Constituted by Chief Justice J S Khehar, a three-judge bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra, Ashok Bhushan and SA Nazeer are hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Allahabad High Court verdict in the case. On August 8, the Shia Central Waqf Board of Uttar Pradesh had told the Supreme Court that a mosque could be built in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the disputed site in Ayodhya. The Board also told the apex court in an affidavit that the Babri Masjid site was its property and only it was entitled to hold negotiations for an amicable settlement of the dispute. "Since, the Babri Masjid was a Shia Waqf, we are alone entitled to negotiate and arrive at peaceful settlement with other stakeholders," Shia Waqf Board said in its statement. After the Allahabad HC divided the land equally between 'Ram Lalla', the Nirmohi Akhara and the Sunni Wakf Board, the issue has been pending in the top court since 2010. Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute The mosque was demolished by Hindu Karsevaks on December 6, 1992 in Ayodhya. The country witnessed massive riots, in which over 2000 people were killed. The Hindus claim that it is the birthplace of Lord Rama where a mosque was built in 1528-29 CE (935 AH) by Mir Baqi. Since the mosque was built on orders of the Mughal emperor Babur, it was named Babri Masjid. Before it was demolished in 1992, the Nirmohi Akhara had forcefully occupied the Babri Masjid in 1853 saying it was Ram Janmabhoomi (Birth place of Lord Rama).