SC asks parties to Ayodhya dispute to explore mediation even if there is 1 per cent chance of success

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the contending parties in the politically sensitive Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya to seriously consider mediation for a permanent solution even if there is "one per cent chance" of success.

Observing it was looking at the possibility of "healing relations" between the parties, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also said it would pass an order on March 6 on whether to refer the dispute to a court-appointed mediator.

The suggestion for another round of mediation, however, drew a mixed response from the parties to the decades-old dispute.

The proposal was mooted by one of the judges, Justice S A Bobde, during the hearing when both the Hindu and the Muslim litigants were sparring over the veracity of documents related to the case which were translated by the Uttar Pradesh government and filed with the apex court registry.

"We are considering it (mediation) very seriously. You all (parties) have used the word that this matter is not adversarial. We would like to give a chance to mediation even if there is one per cent chance," said the bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer.

"We would like to know your (both parties) views on it. We do not want any third party to make a comment to jeopardise the entire process."
However, the bench said, "So dispute is arising between the parties about the authenticity of translated documents. We are not going to waste our time if the parties have dispute over this."
"....we are of the view that to proceed with the hearing of the cases it is necessary to have on record translation of the depositions as well as the Exhibits on which no controversy can be raised at a later point of time to derail the hearing once the same commences."