National

Hearing on Centre's plea on Ayodhya begins today

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI March 5. The crucial hearing of the Centre's plea for vacating the interim order passed in March last in the Ayodhya case, banning all kinds of religious activities in the ``disputed'' and ``undisputed'' land, will start tomorrow before a five-judge Constitution Bench.

The Bench, headed by Justice S. Rajendra Babu, will also take up for hearing the main petition filed by Mohammed Aslam Bhure to place the 67.703 acres of ``undisputed'' land under the control of the Army and seeking the ``status quo'' till the dispute on the title suits are decided by the Allahabad High Court.

The Centre has urged the court to resolve the controversy over the 67.703 acres of ``undisputed land'' stating that "the continuing state of uncertainty is not in public interest.'' And that "it is likely to generate problems even in future and it is, therefore, necessary that the position becomes clear by a final decision of this court.''

The necessity for continuing the interim order did not survive as it had become infructuous.

Hence, it should be vacated and the matter listed for hearing as pleadings by all the parties had been completed, the application said.

In its counter to the main petition, the Centre said that the Government stand was to respect the court verdict and nothing had been done or allowed contrary to any directions of the court.

As for the ``undisputed land,'' the Centre said the true interpretation of the 1994 judgment was that the Government, being the absolute owner of this land (adjacent to the ``disputed land''), had the power to manage and administer it till its further vesting in any authority or other body or trustees of any trust.

Mr. Bhure and the Babri Masjid Movement Coordination Committee have strongly opposed the Centre's plea for vacating the interim order.

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