SC begins final hearing in Ayodhya dispute case

The Supreme Court has begun the final hearing in the politically controversial Babri Masjid-Ram temple dispute case. Kapil Sibal is representing Sunni Waqf Board and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta, representing the State of Uttar Pradesh.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal is reading out on the details of exhibits filed by the contesting defendants before the Allahabad High Court. Sibal told the three-judge bench of the Supreme Court that all these exhibits are not filled before this court. He submitted, all the pleadings are not complete.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta, representing the State of Uttar Pradesh rebutted all the averments of Kapil Sibal. Mehta told SC that all the related documents and requisite translation copies are on record. Kapil Sibal who is representing Sunni Waqf Board raised doubts over assertions of ASG Mehta that how come more than 19000 pages of documents can be filed in such short time.

Sibal told SC he and other petitioners have not been served relevant documents of pleadings Meanwhile, Shyam Benegal and Teesta Setalvad have filed a petition in the apex court seeking deferment of the hearing. The hearing is taking place just a day ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya in December 1992.