Supreme Court resolves Ayodhya Land Dispute relying on a Translated Book

Translation connects people, connects cultures, and spreads knowledge. While going through several documents on the history and location of Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid in the 2.77 acres of land in Ayodhya, Supreme Court relied on a translation of a Book from Sanskrit to English by a Mumbai based publisher that revealed the birthplace of Ram. The evidence helped Supreme Court in passing the final judgement and resolve Ayodhya Land Dispute.

Ayodhya Land Dispute

The case is a title suit for the ownership of 2.77 acres of Land in Ayodhya, between Hindus and Muslim parties with both claiming right to ownership. Hindus claim that the disputed site is the birthplace of Lord Ram and a temple existed. It was demolished in 1528, by the Mughal Emperor Babur, who constructed Babri Masjid at the precise place on top of temple. Muslims disputed this and contested this claim of Hindus.

Allahabad High Court, pronounced on 30 September 2010 the judgment, indicating that the 2.77 acres of Ayodhya land be divided into three parts, with 1⁄3 going to the Ram Lalla Virajman represented by the Hindu Maha Sabha, 1⁄3 going to the Sunni Waqf Board represented by Muslim Parties and the remaining 1⁄3 going to Nirmohi Akhara, Manager of the Devasthan.
All the three parties appealed against the division of disputed land in the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court heard the case and said it was wrong to divide the land into three parts. It went through all claims with evidences that support the existence of Ram Temple at Babri Masjid before the Mughal period.

Supreme Court Observation

• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) provided evidence of the remains of a building “that was not Islamic” beneath the demolished mosque.

• The faith of Hindus that Ram was born at the site of the now-razed masjid is undisputed

• Existence of structures like Sita Rasoi, Ram Chabutra and Bhandar Grih are testimony to the religious fact of the place.

• The title for the land cannot be established on the ground of faith and belief and they are only indicators.

• But the proof of the faith and belief of Hindus that Lord Ram’s birth place is the exact site of the razed Babri Masjid, came in the form of documentary evidence.

• The evidence is the translated text of Skanda Purana from Sanskrit to English by Dr. G.V.Tagore and published by M/s. Motilal Banarasidass Publishers Pvt Ltd, Delhi.

The Judgement

• The judgement quoted the slokhas from published Skanda Purana in Sanskrit from Shri Venkateshwara Steam Press, Mumbai and translated English version. The Slokhas describes the location of Ram Janma Asthan. The legends indicated that the Ram Janma Asthan is to the east of Vigneswara, to the north of Vasistha, and to the west of Laumasa.

• TThe final judgement in the Ayodhya dispute was declared by the Supreme Court of India on 9 November 2019. The Supreme Court ordered the land to be handed over to a trust to build the Hindu temple. It also ordered the government to give an alternate 5 acres of land to the Sunni Waqf Board for the purpose of building a mosque. The court has said in its verdict that the Nirmohi Akhara is not a devotee of the deity Ram Lalla.

• The judgment affirmed that the disputed land was the birthplace of Rama.

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