Fresh plea in SC on acquiring Ayodhya land

A group of individuals including two Lucknow lawyers on Monday approached the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of 1993 central law on land acquisition in Ayodhya near the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site.

The plea contended that Parliament has no legislative competence to acquire land belonging to the state.

The petitioners claimed that state legislature has the exclusive power to make provisions relating to the management of affairs of religious institutions inside its territory.

The petitioners submitted that the Acquisition of Certain Areas of Ayodhya Act, 1993 Act infringed upon the right to religion of Hindus guaranteed and protected by Article 25 of the Constitution of India.

They have sought the court's direction restraining the Centre and the UP government from interfering in "Puja, Darshan and performance of rituals at the places of worship situated within the land admeasuring 67.703 acres acquired under the Act particularly at the land belonging to Shri Ram Janm Bhoomi Nyas, Manas Bhavan, Sankat Mochan Mandir, Ram Janmasthan Temple, Janki Mahal and Katha Mandap".

The petition has been filed within a week of the Centre, on January 29, moving an application in the apex court seeking its nod to return the 67-acre acquired land around the disputed site to original owners.

Meanwhile, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, through Kamlesh Tiwari, approached the apex court seeking a direction to vacate the stay on Allahabad High Court judgement so far it related to beyond 0.313 acres out of 67.703 acres of acquired land.