Pre-Judgment Matrix

Ayodhya: Pre-Judgment Matrix 

For the matrix, click here.

In 2010, the Allahabad High Court awarded joint ownership of the disputed site to the Nirmohi Akhara, U.P. Sunni Central Board of Waqf and Bhagwan Shri Ram Virajman. Each party subsequently appealed the judgment, claiming exclusive ownership for themselves.

In its judgment, the Supreme Court will have to decide whether or not to maintain the status quo established by the High Court. Alternatively, it may award ownership to a single party, like for example to the deity, Shri Ram Virajman. It may also adopt an approach which involves more than one party being awarded the title without including the others.

It is also possible that the Court may choose not to grant ownership to any of the parties. For example, it may place the site in the custody of the state or grant the title to the state and set in place guidelines for the different parties to have access to the site. The precise terms of these outcomes may also depend on whether the parties have put forth settlement proposal (s).

Given the multiplicity of possible outcomes, our matrix is limited to providing an introduction to the central issues involved in the appeals. For these issues, the matrix provides potential outcomes and the reasons that may be provided by the Bench while arriving at each of such outcomes.

A more detailed matrix, providing a more granular overview of the issues, is to follow on Monday, 11 November.