Activists out of Ayodhya land dispute; SC to hear original litigants

A special bench headed by Chief Justice Deepak Mishra directed its Registry "not to entertain any interlocutory applications for intervention or impleadment"

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dashed the hopes of activists like Shyam Benegal and Teesta Setalvad to intervene in the sensitive Babri Masjid-Ram Temple land dispute case, making it clear that only the parties to the original lawsuits would be allowed to put forth their arguments. A special Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said it would first decide whether the land dispute appeals be sent to a five-judge constitution bench as sought by lead petitioner M Siddiq (since deceased), who is represented by legal heirs in the case.
 
“Counsel for appellants, as well as, the respondents in