Film release can’t affect Ayodhya dispute mediation: SC
The Supreme Court of India (File Photo)
The Supreme Court of India (File Photo)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday said that the release of film “Ram Ki Janmabhoomi” would not, in any manner, affect the ongoing mediation to resolve the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmbhoomi title suit dispute.
The bench of Justice S.A. Bobde and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer said this as they declined urgent hearing of a plea seeking to put on hold the release of the film, contending that it could stir communal passion and may impact the ongoing mediation at Faizabad.
Observing that they are not “pessimistic”, the court said that if parties to the dispute are willing to settle the dispute, no film could come in their way.
“Do you think a movie can affect the outcome of the mediation, if parties (to dispute) want to settle it?” the bench asked in the course of the hearing of the plea mentioned by counsel Lily Thomas, appearing for petitioner, Prince Yakub Habeebuddin Tucy who claims to be descended from last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar.
Tucy moved the top court after his plea to block the release of the film was declined by the Delhi High Court.
A panel, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice F.M.I. Kalifulla, with Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Shriram Panchu as members, are holding mediation at Faizabad to fiind some amicable solution of the contentious dispute.
The Supreme Court had on March 8 ordered mediation to settle the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid Ayodhya title dispute case and the panel began its efforts on March 13.
IANS
