The Supreme Court, in a unanimous verdict, on Saturday held that the entire disputed land of 2.77 acres in Ayodhya must be handed over to the trust formed by the centre. The top court also asked the Centre to allot a 5-acre alternate plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque.
In one of the most important and most anticipated judgements in India's history, a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi put an end to the more than a century-old dispute that has torn the social fabric of the nation.
Here are the live updates:
6:53 pm: I Stand Vindicated: Advani On Ayodhya Verdict
Veteran BJP leader L K Advani said he stands vindicated and feels deeply blessed after the Supreme Court's verdict paving way for construction of magnificent Ram temple in Ayodhya.
"It is a moment of fulfilment for me, God gave me opportunity to contribute to mass movement, biggest since India's Freedom Movement," Advani said.
"Now time has come to leave all contention and acrimony behind and embrace communal concord and peace," he added.
6:09pm: Our brotherhood essential for development of India, says PM Modi
6:08pm: We must resolve to build a New India, says PM Modi
6:07pm: Today's message is all about coming together and living together to move forward, says PM Modi
6:06pm: Today’s verdict teaches us to be patient, says PM Modi
6:05pm: Today is Nov 9. It’s the day when Berlin Wall came down. Today is also the day when Kartarpur Sahib corridor has been inaugurated.
6:04pm: There should be no place for negativity and fear in our country, says PM Modi
6:03pm: The Chief Justice and judiciary worthy of praise, says PM Modi
6:02pm: Today’s event will be recorded in history, says PM Modi
6:01pm: After today’s verdict, the world has seen how strong India’s democracy is, says PM Modi
6:00pm: PM Modi address nation, says SC has ruled in a historic case
5:55pm: I Feel Vindicated, says KK Muhammed On Supreme Court Verdict On Ayodhya (Read interview here)
4:55pm: PM Narendra Modi to address nation at 6pm
4:21pm: Sunni Waqf Board Says It Won't Seek Review
"We welcome and humbly accept the verdict of the Supreme Court. I want to make it clear that UP Sunni Waqf Board will not go for any review of the SC order or file any curative petition," Zafar Farooqui, Chairman, UP Sunni Central Waqf Board.
3:50 pm: "Who benefited from Babri demolition?" Asks Gehlot
“The day of judgment came after a long wait. Everyone should respect the decision by maintaining peace and harmony,” Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said.
The senior Congress leader also said: "BJP, RSS, VHP should have left the matter to the judiciary at that time. If they had done it, the country could have been saved from violence and bloodshed. They provoked people. Donation for Ram temple was collected. Babri Masjid was demolished and when the riots broke out, who had benefited?”
3:25 pm: Maharashtra caretaker chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has welcomed the supreme court verdict on the Ayodhya dispute as one "strengthening the pride of the country." He added that "this is not victory or defeat for any community."
"The verdict delivered today is historic because it was unanimous. It shows respect to the sentiment of public," he said.
3:09 pm: We should maintain mutual harmony, says Rahul Gandhi
"The Supreme Court has pronounced its verdict on the Ayodhya issue. While honouring this decision of the court, we all should maintain mutual harmony. This is a time for brotherhood, trust and love among us all Indians," Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.
3:04 pm: I&B Ministry issues advisory to all channels and cable TV operators to strictly adhere to the Programme Code during discussions, debates and reporting.
3:02pm: Supreme Court Is Supreme, Not Infallible: Asaduddin Owaisi
"I am not satisfied with the verdict. The Supreme Court is indeed supreme but not infallible. We have full faith in the Constitution. We were fighting for our legal rights. We do not need five-acre land as a donation," AIMIM President and Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi said
2:45 pm: Today is a day of happiness for Hindus world over, says VHP working president Alok Kumar.
2:15 pm: The Communist Party of India said, "While this judgment has provided a judicial resolution to this fractious issue there are certain premises of the judgment which are questionable."
"The Court judgment has itself stated that the demolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992 was a violation of law. This was a criminal act and an assault on the secular principle. The cases pertaining to the demolition should be expedited and the guilty punished," the party's statement said.
1:11 pm: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, addressing a press conference says, we support the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya.
He added, "In such cases, the SC judgments should be respected. Der aaye durust aaye. I appeal to all people of the country to maintain peace, we don't believe in agitations. We will simply comply with SC order."
"We will all work together to build Ram Mandir," he said.
1:00 pm: SC verdict in Ayodhya case will strengthen people's faith in the judicial system, says PM Modi.
12: 53 pm: Kamaal Faruqi of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board also expressed his dissatisfaction with the verdict.
"Iske badle hume 100 acre zameen bhi de to koi fayda nahi hai. Hamari 67 acre zameen already acquire ki huyi hai to humko daan mein kya de rahe hain vo? Humari 67 acre zameen lene ke baad 5 acre de rahe hain. Ye kahan ka insaaf hai?"
12:45 pm: Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed the Ayodhya Verdict by the Supreme Court and appealed to all to maintain peace and harmony.
12:18 pm: Supreme Court decision cannot be matter of credit or discredit to any individual, group, communities or political parties, says Congress
12:17 pm: Congress in favour of Ram temple construction, says party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala
12:14 pm: Not just to give inner courtyard to other party, says Sunni Waqf Board lawyer
12:12 pm: SC giving Ram Lalla's birth land for Ram Temple salute to sacrifice of lakhs of workers, says former VHP chief Praveen Togadia
12:11 pm: Govindacharya, a central figure in the Ramjanmbhoomi movement, also asserted that social harmony must be maintained in the country so that it can move from "Ram temple to 'Ram Rajya'.
12:10 pm: "I am extremely happy. Now in 3 months, a plan will be made for constructing the temple. Lakhs of workers made sacrifices. I will give the highest credit to Ashok Singhal and L K Advani for (leading the Ramjanmbhoomi movement)," ex-RSS ideologue K N Govindacharya said.
12:05 pm: We welcome the SC judgement on Ayodhya which ended the decades-old dispute. I appeal for peace and harmony, says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
12:00 pm: Ayodhya verdict very balanced, a victory of people, says C S Vaidyanathan, lawyer for deity Ram Lalla.
11:55 am: Lawyers, others shouting 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan before media crew in Supreme Court lawns.
11:51 am: Ayodhya verdict holds no value for us. It has a lot of contradictions, will seek a review, says Zafaryab Jilani of UP Sunni Central Waqf Board.
11:44 am: Everyone must accept the Supreme Court judgement and maintain peace, says Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
11:22 am: The Supreme Court says the Centre will have to permit the construction of Ram Temple.
11:19 am: Supreme Court says Nirmohi Akhara, whose suit was barred by limitation, can also approach the trust.
11:14 am: Both courtyards should be within trust formed by the centre, says Supreme Court.
11:13 am: Supreme Court says 5-acre alternate land should be given to Sunni Waqf Board where they can build a mosque, says the Centre should formulate scheme within three months, set in place a trust.
11:10 am: Demolition of Babri was a violation of the law, says Supreme Court.
11:10 am: Muslim parties have not t been able to exhibit possessory claim to inner courtyard: SC
11:08 am: Hindus have been able to prove unimpeded possession of the outer courtyard; inner courtyard claim is the main contention, says SC.
11:04 am: Supreme Court says neither party has so far been able to exhibit exclusive possession of the title.
11:03 am: "No cessation of namaz, Muslims had possession but Hindus were also worshipping at Ram Chabutra," says SC.
11:00 am: Existence of structure before mosque can't alone be basis of title claim, says SC.
10:55 am: "Sunni Board suit maintainable but Muslims cannot assert the right of adverse possession," says SC.
10:54 am: Hindus have an undisputed belief that Ram was born at the site under the inner dome, says SC
10:45 am: ASI report doesn't say underlying structure was a temple of Ram, says SC.
10:43 am: "Adequate material in ASI reports conclude the mosque was not built on vacant land, Babri was built on underlying structure which was not Islamic structure," says SC.
10:45 am: Ram Janmabhoomi is not a juristic person, says SC.
10:45 am: Nirmohi Akhara's claim for management of the property is barred by limitation, Supreme Court.
10:43 am: The Supreme Court starts pronouncement of judgment by asserting that Secularism is the basic feature of the Constitution.
10:35 am: The verdict on Ayodhya judgment is going to be unanimous, to take 30 minutes to read out the judgment. Supreme Court says "Shia Waqf Board not titleholder."
10:32 am: The five-judge bench assembles in Supreme Court.
10:28 am: Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla arrives at Home Minister Amit Shah's residence for a high-level security meeting.
10:26 am: All five judges who will pronounce the judgment have reached the Supreme Court.
10:16 am: CJI Ranjan Gogoi arrives at the Supreme Court.
10:06 am: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will address the media in the national capital at 1 pm today after the verdict is pronounced on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit.
10:02 am: Home Minister Amit Shah calls a high-level security meeting at his residence. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Intelligence Bureau (IB) Chief Arvind Kumar, and other senior officials to attend the meeting, reports news agency ANI.
9:58 am: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said irrespective of the decision, it is everyone's responsibility to maintain the country's tradition of unity and social harmony. "Whatever the decision of the court, in this hour, the responsibility of maintaining the country's thousands of years old tradition of unity and social harmony is on all of us," she said in a tweet.
9:36 am: Internet services to be suspended for 24 hours in Jaipur Commissionerate, from 10 am today, reports news agency ANI.
9:27 am: The Five Judges Who Will Deliver Ayodhya Verdict
A five-judge bench of the Supreme Court will pronounce its verdict. The bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, has justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer as other members.
9:00 am: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat is set to be in Delhi. According to reports, he is likely to address the nation after the Supreme Court's verdict.
8:46 am: Internet services in Aligarh and Agra have been shut down. "Our social media cells are keeping constant watch on 673 people active on Internet whose post or comments can trigger trouble. Our policemen have identified potential threats and hotspots at district, police station and locality levels. We have also identified 31 sensitive districts such as Agra, Aligarh, Meerut, Moradabad, Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur and others to maintain rule of law," Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police O.P. Singh said.
8:25 AM: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Singh Baghel has appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony in view of the Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya case.
He suggested people rely on the information coming from official sources and not believe in rumours.
8:22 AM: The Uttar Pradesh government has created temporary jails in every district while internet services may be banned in some places to check the spread of rumours through social media.
The Union Home Ministry is in regular correspondence with the state government and has provided 4,000 central paramilitary personnel for deployment in Uttar Pradesh, a senior official said.
8:02 AM: Schools, colleges and other educational institutes will remain closed in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Delhi and Rajasthan as the Supreme Court delivers its verdict in the decades-old Ayodhya dispute on Saturday.
7:54 AM: Security heightened outside Chief Justice of India's residence ahead of the verdict in the Ayodhya land dispute case today.
7:53 AM: Mahant Satyendra Das, Chief Priest of the makeshift Ram temple in Ayodhya, appeals to everyone to respect the Supreme Court verdict and maintain peace. "Prime Minister has rightly said that the Ayodhya verdict will not be anyone’s loss or victory."
7:52 AM: The Himachal Pradesh police has issued a warning against the circulation of fake news in the wake of the Supreme Court's verdict in the sensitive Ayodhya land dispute case on Saturday.
7:46 AM: Ayodhya: Security deployed in the area around Ram Janmabhoomi police station.
11:17 PM: Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has appealed to everyone to ensure that "our reactions will be peaceful no matter what the verdict be. It should not create any room for hate-mongering. State police have been directed to be on high alert."
11:16 PM: All private and government schools will remain shut in Madhya Pradesh.
11:15 PM: Section 144 has been imposed in all 10 districts of Jammu.
11:15 PM: A flag march was conducted by security forces in Uttar Pradesh capital, Lucknow.
11:00 PM: Security has been heightened in Ayodhya ahead of the historic verdict in the Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case.
10:30 PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets, "Whatever decision SC delivers in Ayodhya case, it'll not be a victory or defeat of anyone. My appeal to the countrymen is that it should be the priority of all of us that this decision should further strengthen the great tradition of peace, unity and goodwill of India."
10:25 PM: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says it is everyone's responsibility to maintain a peaceful atmosphere. "Administration is determined to ensure safety to everyone. Action will be taken against those who take law in their hands," he said.
8:00 PM: Dr S Gupta, Inspector General of Police, Ayodhya Range, assures people that there is no need to panic. "Whatever be the verdict, no one should deliver inciting speech, don't post any wrong statements on social media. We are on alert and keeping an eye."
Maharashtra caretaker chiefminister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday welcomed the supremecourt verdict on the Ayodhya dispute as the one "strengtheningthe pride of the country."
Speaking to reporters at the BJP headquarter here,Fadnavis said, "The decision of the supreme court strengthensthe pride of the country. This (decision) is not victory ordefeat for any community."
"The verdict delivered today is historic because itwas unanimous. It shows respect to the sentiment of public,"
