Ayodhya dispute: SC to examine mediation report

The Supreme Court is to take up on Friday the case of Ayodhya dispute related to Ram temple and Babri Masjid, in order to consider the report of meditation undertaken by a panel headed by former judge Justice F M I Kalifullah.

A bench of CJI, Justice S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer would assemble at 10.30 am to consider the matter, according to a notification issued by the Supreme Court's registry.

On March 8, the court had referred the 70-year-old dispute for mediation by a panel headed by Justice Kalifulla to find out the possibility of an amicable settlement, though Hindu sides have opposed it.

Spiritual guru and founder of Art of Living foundation Sri Sri Ravishankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu, a renowned mediator, were nominated as two members of the panel of mediators.

The court had then directed the panel to submit a progress report within four weeks. It had also ordered for holding the mediation proceedings "in-camera".

The panel was told to complete its process within eight weeks.

The court had then said the period of mediation would be used to ensure the voluminous documents related to 2010 appeals against the Allahabad High Court judgement were to be prepared for the hearing.