With the pronouncement of the final verdict of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya by the Supreme Court, a centuries-old religious dispute that has also led to a prolonged legal battle spanning almost seven decades has been ultimately put to rest. There has been high suspense over the issue all throughout that actually skyrocketed since the 41-day marathon hearings ended on October 16 last along with the obvious apprehensions surrounding the ‘after-effects’ the judgement might bring. There were also fervent appeals from all concerned stakeholders to accept the judgement with full honour, irrespective in whose favour it sways. Now that the judgement has arrived, a great chunk of collective responsibility has now fallen upon the entire nation, which is to respect the verdict in toto and refrain from doing such and such things that go against the very ‘definition’ of India which has been known fundamentally as a secular and law-abiding state, among the other virtues. There would be both satisfaction and dissatisfaction in this case, just like in any legal order, but, that should not see ‘expressions’ that would strike negatively the country’s socio-religious fabric, where tolerance is always an essential perquisite of its healthy sustainability and continuity. Above all other things, it is without any doubt the immediate duty at hand.
The verdict, which has been delivered by a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi has unanimously ordered that a temple must be constructed at the disputed 2.77-acre land in Ayodhya and Muslims must be compensated with 5 acres of land at a prominent place in Ayodhya and the Central government has to formulate a scheme within three months to implement this order. This is the crux of the voluminous 1045-page verdict which has freed the nation from a nagging legal controversy, whose timeline is really an ordeal to keep track with. It has been defined as a landmark verdict which has closed the chapter of the longest-drawn controversy in the country’s history. To some it may sound ‘victory’ and also ‘failure’ for some. But if its history is analysed, even casually, it would not be wrong to say that it’s neither of that sort. If there is any cause of rejoice, it should be viewed in the light of the much clamoured ‘freedom’ from the hatred-laced atmosphere the dispute had brought with several instances of extreme communal disharmony also.
It will be most beneficial to the country if there are no attempts to extract political mileage from any quarter and prove oneself as law-abiding citizen. A sordid episode has been closed and no effort should be given room for its reopening at any point of time. It’s that ‘supreme’ responsibility which all stakeholders must deliver without fail.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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