M. Siddiq Case (2019)

Supreme Court Judgement:

• Awarding of Land: The Supreme Court awarded the entire 2.77 acres of the disputed land in Ayodhya to the deity Ram Lalla Virajman.

• Direction for Ram Mandir Construction: The Centre was directed to formulate a scheme for the setting up of a trust for the construction of a Ram Mandir at the disputed site where the Babri Masjid stood before its demolition in 1992.

• Direction for Mosque Construction: Additionally, the Centre and UP government were directed to allot an alternative 5 acres of land to the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board at a suitable prominent place in Ayodhya for the construction of a mosque.

• Representation for Nirmoni Akhara: The court directed that in framing the scheme for the setting up of the trust, appropriate representation may be given to the Nirmoni Akhara in a manner deemed fit by the Centre. However, the suit filed by the Akhara claiming shebaiti rights was held to be barred by limitation and was dismissed accordingly.

Impact of the Judgement:

• Resolution of Century-Old Dispute: The judgement brought an end to the long-standing dispute over the Ayodhya land, which had disrupted communal harmony in Indian society for over a century.

• Formation of Ayodhya Temple Trust: Following the judgement, the Centre announced the formation of the Ayodhya temple trust known as the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra, tasked with overseeing the construction of the Ram Mandir.

• Allocation of Land: The UP government allocated 5 acres of land to the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board in Dhannipur, Ayodhya, as directed by the court, for the construction of a mosque.

• Overturning Previous Judgement: The judgement overturned the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict, which had divided the disputed land equally among the Ram Lalla Virajman, UP Sunni Central Waqf Board, and Nirmoni Akhara.