Can build masjid at a distance: Shia board to Supreme Court

New Delhi: In a surprise development, the Shia Central Waqf Board on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that a mosque could be built in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most revered place of birth of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.

It also sought the constitution of a committee of all stakeholders, including a retired apex court judge, to find an amicable solution to end the decades-old dispute.

Ahead of the crucial hearing on August 11 over appeals against the Allahabad high court’s decision relating to the title dispute in Ayodhya, the Shia board, in an affidavit, has taken a contrary stand to that of the Sunni Waqf Board, which favoured construction of mosque at the disputed site, as it claimed that the land belonged to it.

Zafaryab Jilani, the Sunni Waqf Board counsel and convener of the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee, reacting sharply to the Shia board’s move, said that it was too late in the day to stake claim over the mosque and the land.

“The case has been going on for decades and now suddenly the Shia board decides that it wants to be a party in the case. The high court has already clarified who the parties in the case are,” he said in Lucknow.

The high court, by a 2:1 majority, had said the land be partitioned equally among three parties — the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. Appeals against this verdict are pending.

While the Sunni Board is one of the appellants, Shia Board is cited as one of the parties but not the main appellant to the title dispute. In its affidavit, the Shia Board asserted that the Babri Masjid’s site was its property and only it was entitled to hold negotiations for an amicable settlement of the dispute. The Shia Board said that the Sunni Board is under the control of Sunni hardliners, fanatics and non-believers, who have absolutely no stake in the present case.

The Shia Board said it is of the view that proximity of places of worship, i.e. mosque and temple of the two litigating denominations, should be avoided as use of loudspeakers tends to disturb the religious performances of each other, often leading to conflicts.

The Shia Board said that to bring quietus, the masjid could be located in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most “revered place of birth of Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram”.

Pointing out that the matter was pending adjudication for seven years, the Shia Board said it respected the sentiments of Hindus and was ready to conclude a peaceful settlement of dispute.

It said that it would be in the larger public interest that the apex court set up a committee comprising a retired Supreme Court judge, two retired judges of Allahabad high court, a nominee of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister or his nominee, a representative of Nirmohi Akhara and Hindu sect to make suggestions and proposals for an amicable settlement.

The Shia Board said the apex court may give directions to this committee to hold talks and submit its report. It said the Shias were receiving threats from hardliners, which has been brought to the notice of the state government.