Ram Janmabhoomi Dispute: Nearly 20,000 Documents Will Now Be Filed With The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court commenced the final hearing in the long-standing Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute today, a day before the 25th anniversary of the demolition of the medieval-era structure in Ayodhya.

During the hearing, Congress leader and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal, who is representing the Sunni Waqf Board in the case, said that the pleadings are not complete and all the reports of the Archaeological Survey of India have not been placed before the apex court. Sibal told the Supreme Court that a total number of 19,590 documents were to be filed in the apex court, Hindustan Times reported.

Sibal’s argument was rebutted by Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who is representing Uttar Pradesh. Mehta told the Supreme Court that all the related documents and requisite translation copies are on record in the court.

The apex court, however, halted the hearing to take stock of the documents, the daily’s report said. According to a Press Trust of India report, the bench then asked advocates of the appeals filed before the court to sit together and make sure that all documents have been filed and numbered.

Sibal demanded the final hearing in the case to be held after July 2019. The court, however, rejected the demand and deferred the hearing in the case to 8 February 2018 after the petitioners asked for time to get all documents ready.