Ayodhya, the longest running legal dispute in India

The Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid issue is the longest running legal dispute in India--actually dating back to 1885--but lay dormant for long periods of time.

The seeds of the dispute was sown when Mahant Raghubar Das wanted to build a temple on the land adjoining the disputed structure in Ayodhya was refused by the then Faizabad deputy commissioner.

Seeking a legal recourse, Das filed a title suit in a Faizabad court in 1885 against the government seeking permission to build a temple on the Chabutra on the outer courtyard of the disputed structure.

The suit was dismissed on the ground that the event (alleged demolition of an original Ram temple in 1528) had occurred over 350 years earlier, and so it was too late to remedy the grievance.

The Faizabad court ordered maintenance of status quo.

The matter remained dormant for the next six decades and the case was revived in 1950.

An FIR, which was lodged on December 23, 1949, alleged that over 50 people had broken the locks of the structure and installed a Ram idol and several other Hindu idols.

Soon after the filing of the FIR, the structure was attached and placed in the custody of a receiver appointed by the Faizabad district administration who ensured worship of the idol through a pujari.

The case took a new turn when on January 16, 1950, Hindu Mahasabha member Gopal Singh Visharad and the Paramhansa Ramchandra Das, keeper of the Digambar Akhada in Ayodhya, filed a civil suit in the Faizabad court against some district officials and Muslims.

They sought an injunction against removal of the idols and demanded permission for uninterrupted puja and darshan.

An interim court order on April 26, 1955 said the idols should remain in place.

This was followed by the Nirmohi Akhara filing another suit on December 17, 1959 against receiver and UP government seeking delivery of the property to itself.

Two years later, the Sunni Central Wakf Board sought declaration of the structure as a mosque, handover of the plot to itself, and removal of idols and other articles on December 18, 1961 which is now another suit that led to bunching of all the suits together in 1964.

The issue took an emotive turn and used as a political tool when the VHP began a campaign to build a Ram temple at the disputed site in 1984.

In 1986, VHP formed the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas while prominent Muslim leaders formed the Babri Masjid Action Committee.

On December 16, 1987, the UP government sought transfer of all suits from Faizabad court to Allahabad High Court.

This was followed by the High court restraining political parties from disturbing status quo at the disputed structure.

On Oct 25, 1989, the Court allowed UP government to take possession of land around the structure but later, on an appeal from Muslim groups, set aside the acquisition of the 2. 77 acres adjacent to the disputed structure and prohibited permanent construction.

In another twist, the then government on November 10, 1989 allowed shilanyas by VHP outside the 2.77 acres which led to the laying of foundation for Ram temple.

The Supreme Court permited symbolic kar seva on the assurance of the BJP government led by Kalyan Singh on November 27, 1992.

The structure was demolished a few days later on December 6, 1992 and unleashed communal violence in the country.