World

Final hearing of Babri Masjid demolition case set to begin

February 07, 2018
Zafaryab Jilani
Zafaryab Jilani

By Muhammad Mujahid Syed

Saudi Gazette

LUCKNOWThe Supreme Court began the final hearings on Thursday (Feb. 8) on the Babri Masjid demolition case. Citing incomplete filing of documents by the petitioners, the Supreme Court has announced March 14 as the next date of hearing.

The case is being heard by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Deepak Mishra. The other two judges are namely Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice S. A. Nazeer.

Saudi Gazette recently spoke to Zafaryab Jilani, one of the leading lawyers arguing for the Muslim side, to ascertain the progress in the case as well as other issues faced by the Muslim community in India.

Jilani, the former additional advocate general of Uttar Pradesh, is the convener of Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) and a member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

“In this case Muslim parties are being represented by four senior advocates namely Kapil Sibbal, Dr. Rajiv Dhawan and Raju Ramchandran and they are being assisted by me. However, there are six advocates on record and their juniors. Hindu side is represented in two parts. One represented by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the other by Nirmohi Akhara. Harish Salve and C.S. Vidyanathan, senior advocates, may lead the group represented by the VHP. Senior advocate S.K. Jain assisted by R.L. Verma will represent the Nirmohi Akhara. Seven or eight other senior counsels will represent other Hindu parties. Tushar Mehta, senior advocate Raghuvendra Singh, advocate general of Uttar Pradesh will represent the state of U.P. and they will also side with the Hindu parties” Jilani said in an answer to a question regarding the latest development in the case.

“Now it’s obvious that Dr. Parveeen Togadia has been sidelined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the last several years. Togadia is heartbroken. Since RSS is supporting Modi in his conflict with Togadia, it is likely that Togadia even be replaced by someone else as general secretary of VHP,” he commented on the fall from grace of Parveen Togadia.

“When triple talaq case was argued in the Supreme Court in May 2017, the judges had made query from Kapil Sibbal, senior advocate, representing All India Muslim Personal Law Board as to whether the board can issue an advisory to the Qazis performing nikah that they may persuade the bride grooms to incorporate and undertaking in the nikahnama that in the event of divorce they will not pronounce triple talaq in one sitting. Kapil Sibbal had taken time to seek instructions from the general secretary of the board. General Secretary of the Board Maulana Wali Rahmani, after holding telephonic consultation with other important functionaries of the board had replied in the affirmative. The judges then asked with Kapil Sibal to file an affidavit and accordingly an affidavit of the secretary of the board was filed in the Supreme Court. In pursuance of the said affidavit an advisory was issued by the board to the aforesaid effect and the board is still pursuing the said advisory,” he elaborated Muslim Personal Law board’s stand in the triple talaq issue.


February 07, 2018
605 views
HIGHLIGHTS
World
hour ago

Trump’s Bible endorsement raises concern in Christian religious circles

World
hour ago

Colombia expels Argentine diplomats after Milei calls Petro ‘terrorist murderer’ 

World
hour ago

Bus carrying Easter worshippers falls off cliff killing 45 people in South Africa