5-judge SC Bench to hear Ayodhya case

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 8

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi today constituted a five-judge Constitution Bench to hear from January 10 the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute that has been hanging fire for months despite completion of procedural formalities.

Besides CJI Gogoi, the Bench includes Justices SA Bobde, NV Ramana, Uday Umesh Lalit and DY Chandrachud — who are in line of succession to become CJIs.

During a hearing lasting 30 seconds, a Bench of CJI Gogoi and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul had on Friday said the further order on hearing 14 cross-appeals against the September 30, 2010, verdict of the Allahabad High Court’s order dividing the disputed land equally between Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and Sunni Wakf Board would be passed by an “appropriate Bench” on January 10.

On Tuesday, a notice on the top court’s website said the Constitution Bench would take up the matter at 10.30 am on Thursday.

Earlier, a Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra (since retired), Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice S Abdul Nazeer was hearing the matter, but after Justice Misra’s retirement on October 2, the Bench had not been reconstituted.

The Bench

CJI Ranjan Gogoi
Justice SA Bobde
Justice NV Ramana
Justice UU Lalit
Justice DY Chandrachud