Ayodhya case: SC says parties can go for mediation if they want to, hearings likely to finish by October 18

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that if parties to the Ram-Janmabhoomi Babri Masjid land dispute case want to amicably resolve the matter through mediation, they can still go ahead with it.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said it has received a letter from former Supreme Court judge F M I Kalifulla, who was heading the three-member mediation panel, saying some parties have written to him for resumption of the mediation process.

“Simultaneously the mediation process can go along with the hearing, which is going on in SC, and if an amicable settlement is reached through by it, the same can be filed before the SC,” said Ranjan Gogoi.

The bench said the day-to-day proceedings in the land dispute case have reached "an advanced stage" and will continue.

The court, however, said the mediation process under the chairmanship of Justice Kalifulla can still continue and proceedings before it will remain confidential.

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi also said, "as per the estimate of tentative dates to finish the hearing in the case, we can say that the submissions have to be likely completed by October 18."

with PTI inputs