Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case: SC sends dispute for in-camera mediation

Three member panel to complete mediation in eight weeks, submit first report after four weeks of commencement, says top court

The Supreme Court on Friday decided to send the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land title dispute for mediation by a three-member team led by a former judge of the court, Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla. The other two members of the panel are spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Chennai-based Senior Advocate Sriram Panchu.

Holding that nothing in the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) posed a “legal impediment to making a reference to mediation for a possible settlement of the dispute,” a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that the proceedings of the mediation