No evidence of temple demolition: Justice Khan

In his order Justice Khan said there were ruins of a temple at the disputed site on which the mosque was constructed under orders of the Mughal emperor Babar. “Some materials of the ruined temple were used in the construction of the mosque”, he added.

He explained that the Hindus believed that Lord Rama had been born at an “unspecified area” within the disputed site. “This belief of the Hindus was there for a very long time till the construction of the mosque”, he added.

Justice Khan however said that the Hindus had been worshipping the idols much before 1885, when the first suit in the matter was filed by one Raghubir Das claiming title of the adjoining Ram Chabutra (platform) and Sita Rasoi (Sita’s kitchen).

He said that both parties, Hindus and Muslims, are held to be in joint possession of the entire premises in dispute.

“It was very unique and absolutely unprecedented situation that inside the boundary wall and compound of the mosque, Hindu religious places were there which were actually being worshipped along with offerings of Namaz by Muslims in the mosque”, justice Khan said in his order.