Ayodhya: Timeline of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute

In the history of Independent India, there have been conflicts and issues, court cases have lasted years and given out verdicts that have played a key role in shaping India as the country we know today. When we talk about the magnitude of the conflict, there has been none bigger than the Ayodhya issue also known as Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute. The issue stretches all the way back to the 1500s when the Mughals first invaded India. And since then, the issue has been passed down from generation to generation, until now when the verdict of the Supreme Court of India is only days away. Ayodhya verdict, which is expected to come anytime next week - is one of the most awaited one in India's history - be it political or judicial. The five-judge Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court is expected to give its verdict on the Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute. IndiaTvNews.com brings you the chronology of events leading up to the final verdict on Ayodhya case. Ayodhya Dispute Timeline 1524: Babur enters India on the invitation of Daulat Khan Lodi and becomes the first Mughal ruler of India. 1528: The date of construction of the Babri Masjid is uncertain but the inscriptions on the Babri Masjid premises found in the 20th-century state that the mosque was built in 935 AH (1528–29) by Mir Baqi in accordance with the wishes of Babur. First Violence 1853: First incident of communal violence over the Ayodhya issue is recorded in the year 1853 under the rule of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. This was the first time that the Hindu community representatives claimed that the Mosque was built after the demolition of a Hindu temple. 1859: By this time Hindus and Muslims both started praying at the site. The issue of possession of the site led to more communal clashes. The Britishers built a fence that divides the compound into 2 -- The inner court to be used by Muslims and the outer court by Hindus. Courts Get Involved 1885: Courts get involved for the first time in 1885 as Mahant Raghubir Das files plea in Faizabad district court seeking permission to build a canopy of Ram Chabootra on the site of Ram JanmaBhoomi. The Faizabad district court rejected this plea. The First Controversy 1949: The first big controversy in the Ayodhya conflict came up in 1949 when Idol of Lord Ram was allegedly placed inside the temple by Hindu activist and a message was spread that Lord Ram had miraculously appeared inside the Mosque. There was a protest from the Muslim side. Both Hindus and Muslims filed a civil suit each in the court. The government had to declare the premises as 'disputed area' and lock the gates until further notice. The then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru asked that the idols be removed immediately but the local officer K. K. K Nair refused to carry out the orders stating that it doing so would lead to communal riots. 1950: Suit was filed in the court by the Hindu side seeking permission for the right to worship the idols in the premises. The court held back the removal of the idols and allowed the Hindus to worship. Third-Party Enters Fray 1959: Nirmohi Akhara comes into the fray and stakes claim to the site. Nirmohi Akhara files suit claiming to be the custodians of the spot at which Lord Ram was supposedly born. 1961: Sunni Waqfs Board (central) moved to court against the 'forcefull' idol installation and seeking possession of the Mosque. 1986: Open the Gates! 1986: The district court directed to unlock the gate for 'darshan' to Hindus. The Muslims protested against this decision and set up the Babri Masjid Action Committee. As a result, the gate which was opened had to be closed in under an hour's time. 1989: Vishwa Hindu Parishad's (VHP) then Vice President Deoki Nandan Agarwal filed a suit for the title and possession at the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court. The same year, the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute came under the scanner of a Special Bench of the Allahabad High Court. 1990: VHP activists partially damage the Mosque while attempting to demolish it completely. 1992: December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid dome is demolished. Nationwide communal riots broke out and more than 2,000 lives were lost. Ten days later, on December 16, the Liberhan Commission was set up to investigate the demolition of the disputed structure of Babri Masjid. Retired High Court Judge MS Liberhan was in charge of the commission. BJP government in four states were dismissed by the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. 1996: Allahabad High Court puts all civil suits on a single table. Allahabad High Court asks Archaeological Survey of India to provide evidence 2002: Allahabad High Court orders Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to find out if there was evidence of a Hindu temple beneath the Mosque structure. The same year the court also starts hearing in the case to find out the real owner of the disputed site. 2003: ASI finds evidence of temple beneath the site of Babri Masjid and tells the court. ASI found the evidence on the basis of stone columns and pillars that could be representations of Hindu, Buddhist or Jaina elements. All India Muslim Personal Law Board says it will challenge the ASI report in court. Librahan Commission Report 2009: Librahan Commission submits its report. Kalyan Singh, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh at the time of Babri Masjid demolition was harshly criticized in the report. He was accused of posting bureaucrats and police officers who would stay silent during the mosque's demolition in Ayodhya. 2010: Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court reserves its order, suggests parties to resolve issues through talks but no one is interested. Allahabad High Court's Historic Verdict 2010: Allahabad High Court gave a historic judgement in the Ayodhya case. The court divided the land into three parts -- part 1 goes to Ram Lalla, part 2 goes to the Islamic Waqf Board and part 3 to the Nirmohi Akhara. Neither party was quite pleased with the decision, therefore, Hindu Mahasabha and Sunni Waqf Board both challenged the Allahabad High Court decision in the Supreme Court. 2011: Supreme Court backs Allahabad High Court judgement, says 'status quo remains'. 2015: VHP declares people all across India to collect stones for the construction of Ram Mandir at the disputed land. The then UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said he would not allow the stones to come to Ayodhya because it risks causing communal tension. All eyes on Supreme Court 2017: The SC stated that the Babri Masjid demolition case is sensitive and requires unification of issues. SC appealed to all stakeholders of the issue to find an amicable solution. 2018: Supreme Court says the 'Ayodhya land dispute' case will be listed before an 'appropriate bench' in January 2019. 2019: Supreme Court sets up a five-judge Constitution Bench to hear the land dispute. The bench hears both sides of the argument. Supreme Court also tries to resolve the issue through 3rd party mediation but all attempts to do so fail. People like Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar tried to mediate the issue as well. The Constitutional Bench of the SC concluded a marathon hearing that lasted for 40 days in October 2019 and reserved the decision. The Apex court is expected to give out a verdict any day now. Any ruling will come before CJI demits office on November 17, 2019. With this verdict, one of the longest-standing issues in the history of medieval-modern India will be resolved (hopefully). November 9, 2019 SC grants entire 2.77 acre of disputed land in Ayodhya to deity Ram Lalla, possession of land will remain with Central government receiver. SC also directs Centre and UP govt to allot 5 acre land to the Muslims at a prominent place for building mosque. Aaj Ki Baat:SC to pronounce Ayodhya Verdict at 10:30 am tomorrow | Nov 8, 2019

Ayodhya: Timeline of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute

1986: Open the Gates!

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