'We will abide by SC order'

Reacting to the Supreme Court’s order on Wednesday on upholding the High Court order on the litigation over ownership and use of the Idgah Maidan in Hubli, Anjuman-e-Islam, which had approached the apex court has said that it would abide by the court order.

President of Anjuman-e-Islam M A Savanur told Business Standard that its appeal had been quashed and so also the appeal on the customary rights of the Hindus. The Supreme Court has delivered the order keeping in mind the sensitive nature of the issue and we will abide by it, he said.

Former minister Jabbarkhan Honnali and former president of Anjuman-e-Islam said, “The Supreme Court has delivered judgement and we have to obey it”.

Supreme Court advocate B Y Kulkarni who had appeared on behalf of the public with regard to the customary rights of them over the land said that the Supreme Court had upheld the High Court’s order which had ruled that Hubli Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) was the owner of the land and it was only a license to pray on Id twice in a year for a period of 999 years.

MP from Dharwad, Prahlad Joshi, who was one among the participants in the movement to hoist the national flag at Idgah Maidan during the 1990s told over telephone, “It is the happiest moment in my life. Since 1993 I have been supporting the cause.

The Supreme Court has issued a very clear order and there is no scope for confusion. Now that the court has upheld the ruling that the land belongs to Hubli Dharwad Municipal Corporation, it is left to the Corporation to take further steps after allowing the Idgah Maidan for Muslims for prayers twice in a year”, he said.

Mayor of Hubli-Dharwad Viranna Savadi termed the verdict as victory of the people of the twin cities. He said the Corporation would take steps as per the direction of the Supreme Court on the Idgah Maidan issue.

Meanwhile, members of Hindu organisations, mainly RSS, celebrated “vijayotsava” at Hutatma Chowk in Deshpande Nagar, by bursting crackers and distributing sweets.

Addressing the gathering RSS leader Sudheer Nadgir said following the Supreme Court order the HDMC authorities should take steps to hoist the national flag at the Maidan on the Republic Day.