Ayodhya case hearing witnesses spat between lawyers in SC

The crucial hearing on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute in the Supreme Court today witnessed a spat between senior lawyer Rajeev Dhavan and an advocate over former's remark that the 'Hindu Taliban' destroyed the mosque in 1992.

"I will not take back my words. I stand by the statement. The Hindus who demolished the Babri mosque are Taliban and some advocates also behave like that in the Supreme Court," Dhavan told a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer.

Even after the terse observation of the top court that Dhavan's remark was "inappropriate", the senior lawyer, appearing for M Siddiq, one of the original litigants of the Ayodhya case, kept repeating that he differed with the comment of the bench.

"I have got the right to disagree. I do not agree with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) that I should have observed restraint in saying that Hindu Taliban demolished the mosque.

"The image of the Hindus was tarnished on December 6, 1992...The destruction of Babri mosque was a terrorist act. I will not take back my words. I stand by my words," Dhavan said.

Justice Bhushan intervened when Dhavan repeatedly stated that he disagreed the CJI's observation and observed, "Yes, you (Dhavan) are entitled to your views. But, the CJI is also empowered to observe something."
The spat began when a lawyer objected to Dhavan's remark that the "Hindu Taliban" had destroyed the Babri mosque and said, "He cannot be allowed to use such words against the entire Hindu community."
"We are dealing with the issue whether it (the case) can be referred to a Constitution bench or not. The use of words (Hindu Taliban) was inappropriate," the bench said, adding, "Let the message go out loud and clear that the decorum of the court has to be maintained..."