‘There can be no peace without justice’: Review petition filed in Supreme Court against Ayodhya judgement

A review petition was filed today in the Supreme Court challenging its November 9 judgement in the Ayodhya land dispute case.

LiveLaw reports that the petition was filed by Maulana Syed Arshad Rashidi, legal representative of M Siddique, one of the original Muslim plaintiffs in the title suit. This is the first review petition filed by a Muslim party against the verdict.

LiveLaw quoted the review petition as saying: “The review petitioner is conscious of the sensitive nature of the issue and understands the need to put a quietus to the issue in dispute so as to maintain peace and harmony in our country, however, it is submitted that there can be no peace without justice.”

The petition listed “apparent errors” in the judgement, including that the “relief allowing construction of temple in the disputed site amounts to a virtual mandamus to demolish the Babri Masjid”, and that the “acts committed in 1934, 1949 and 1992 against the mosque, which were denounced by the Court itself, have been rewarded”.

On November 9, the Ayodhya verdict was delivered by a constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer. Gogoi subsequently retired later that month.