Supreme Court sets new deadline for final Ayodhya hearing

The Supreme Court on Friday (October 4) set a new deadline to conclude the Ayodhya case debate. All the parties in the case have been directed to wrap their arguments by October 17, which is a day ahead of the earlier deadline.

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, on the conclusion of 37th day of the hearing, fixed the date for the final leg of the lengthy arguments. The bench said the Muslim sides to complete the arguments on October 14 and thereafter, two days would be granted to the Hindu parties to sum up their rejoinders by October 16, and October 17 would be the last day for wrapping up the hearing.

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The top court on Thursday restrained a Hindu party from placing any material as new evidence in the case at this stage of the hearing. “Just because a five-judge Constitution bench is sitting you cannot bring any new materials at this stage. The Constitution bench is hearing this case because of the importance and sensitivity of the matter,” said a bench headed by Gogoi.

Though the fresh deadline is nearing, it is unlikely that the issue will be settled outside the court, as Ramlalla Virajman, one of the three main parties to the suit, said no to further mediation.