The Supreme Court-appointed mediation panel comprising retd Justice FMI Kalifullah, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and mediation expert Sr. Adv Sriram Panchu has submitted a report to the Constitution Bench in a sealed cover, which is by large being called a partial deal in so far as it is a settlement between some Hindu and Muslim parties where as many as 14 appeals were filed against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgment, partitioning the 2.77 acre land equally into three parts.

The report apparently concedes title of the land to Hindus, with the assurance that other ASI mosques, which may be listed by the Sunni Waqf Board, would be made available to Muslims to offer Namaz in. The report also seeks directions to the government to renovate existing mosques in Ayodhya.

The settlement was sought under Places of Worship Act, 1991 which provides that except the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi site of Ayodhya, no pre-1947 mosque or other religious places that were built after demolition of temples can be subjected to fresh dispute.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar tweeted yesterday, “I thank the Supreme Court for the confidence they have placed in the mediation. I thank all the parties for their sincere and tireless participation. The entire mediation process happened with a sense of brotherhood and understanding which is a testament to the values of this nation.”

However, two main stakeholders – VHP-backed Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and Ram Lalla deity – and six other Muslim parties which have filed appeals are not party to the said settlement.

According to sources, while a senior advocate appearing in the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case said that the report will hold no value as the hearing has concluded, other parties said they were unaware of any settlement report filed.

–India Legal Bureau