Rajnath Singh hails SC ruling in Ayodhya title dispute case

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Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday hailed Supreme Court's verdict on Ayodhya land title dispute case saying it will strengthen the 'communal harmony' in the country.

"This is a historic decision. It is a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court. We must all accept this. It will strengthen the communal harmony," he said while speaking to ANI in Dehradun.

The Union Minister also urged the public to maintain peace and be calm. " I appeal to the public to main peace and be calm and accept the judgment."

The Supreme Court on Saturday directed the Centre to give five acres of suitable land to Sunni Waqf Board and at the same time make necessary arrangements for the construction of the temple by forming a trust.

"Central government shall form in three to four months a scheme for setting up of a trust. They shall make necessary arrangements for the management of trust and construction of the temple," Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said while reading out the verdict.

He said that the possession of the inner and outer courtyard shall be handed over to the trust.

"Suitable plot of land measuring five-acre shall be handed over to Sunni Waqf Board," said the apex court.

A five-judge constitution bench presided by Chief Justice Gogoi will shortly pronounce the verdict on a batch of petitions against an order of the Allahabad High Court which trifurcated the site between the parties -- Ramlalla Virajman, Sunni Central Waqf Board and Nirmohi Akhara.

A decade-long legal dispute is being fought by right-wing party Hindu Mahasabha, a sect of Hindu monks Nirmohi Akhara and Muslim Waqf Board over 2.77 acres of land in Ayodhya. The dispute is expected to come to an end with the decision of the top court.