SC tells Nirmohi Akhara claim of devotee can not be adverse to deity

The Supreme Court on Friday told Nirmohi Akhara, which has said the lawsuit of 'Ram Lalla' be rejected and the disputed land in Ayodhya be given to it as it has been the deity's sole devotee, that the claim of 'shebait' (devotee) "can never be adverse to the deity".

Hearing the arguments on the 11th day, the top court said if the Hindu body was contesting the suit of 'Ram Lalla Virajman', it was going against the deity's title and asking the court to dismiss the suit of the deity.

On Thursday, the Akhara claimed it was the sole 'shebait' of Ram Lalla at the disputed site, prompting the court to say if it was so the Akhara cannot have the title over the 2.77-acre disputed land.

But the court's observation was resisted by the Akhara counsel, Sushil Jain, who said the Hindu body has been in possession of the property in the capacity of 'shebait' and hence its "right does not vanish".

On Friday, the five-judge Constitution bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi took exception of the Akhara counsel, and said, "When you seek dismissal of the suit of your own deity then you are seeking right against your deity."
"Suppose the suit of Ram Lalla goes then you have no independent claim... You can't survive if the deity does not survive."
Justice Bobde then asked the Akhara to clear whether it was taking a position "contrary to the deity". He told the counsel: "First say 'yes' or 'no'."
The bench then asked: "You will have to show us the evidence to establish your 'shebait' rights. Show us the documents related to that. You show us documentary and oral evidence."