Ayodhya temple
May 9, 2011
As they suspended a ruling which had sought to divide the holy site of the Ayodhya temple in the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh, the two Supreme Court judges questioned the logic behind it.
Last year in September, the High Court in Allahabad divided the disputed premises in Ayodhya into three parts - one for a Hindu temple, one for Muslims and a third for a local Hindu trust.
After the judgement, Hindu and Muslims submitted their petitions, asking for the disputed site to be given to one community or the other completely.
'Strange and surprising'
"This ruling is very strange and surprising," the Supreme Court judges said on Monday, questioning the rationality behind dividing the temple site into three portions when none of the petitioners had requested anything to this effect.
"The High Court has carved out a new relief which was never asked for. This is something that has to be corrected," Justice Lodha said.
The judges heard appeals filed by the three parties among whom the land had initially been divided: the Nirmohi Akhara, the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, the Jamait Ulama i Hind and the Sunni Waqf Board.
Satisfaction with Supreme Court ruling
All parties expressed satisfaction at the Supreme Court's decision on Monday. The case will be taken up again when the court resumes its session in July after the summer break.
The Allahabad High Court ruling was seen by many as a failed attempt to reconcile the fighting groups. Muslim groups challenged the judgement saying it was not based on documentary evidence and that the disputed area was the site of a mosque belonging to Muslims.
Hindus on the other hand said that the mosque was only built after an old temple belonging to Lord Rama, one of the most important Hindu gods, was demolished.
The conflict, which goes back centuries, peaked in December 1992 when Hindu fanatics razed down the mosque.
The following days witnessed communal riots believed to be the worst since India separated from Pakistan in 1947. More than 2,000 people were killed.
Author: Manasi Gopalakrishnan(AFP, dpa, PTI)
Editor: Anne Thomas