New Delhi, September 18: The Supreme Court on Wednesday set a deadline for all parties to complete their final arguments in the Ayodhya land dispute case. The court has asked all stakeholders to finish the arguments by October 18.
This came after all sides submitted their schedule of presenting their arguments.
After a submission of tentative schedule by both Senior Advocates CS Vaidyanathan and Rajeev Dhavan, CJI Ranjan Gogoi said that hearing of the arguments would be completed by October 18.
CJI Ranjan Gogoi said, “Let us all make a combined effort to conclude the hearing by October 18.” He also added that the court may extend the hearing by one hour and also sit on Saturdays if required and finish the hearings.
The court also made it clear that the Ayodhya proceedings will still remain confidential.
CJI Gogoi has also said that day-to-day proceedings in the Ayodhya matter will continue as the hearing has reached an advanced stage.
Speaking on a letter submitted by the Justice Kalifullah-led mediation panel, the court said, “If parties desire to settle the matter, including by resorting to mediation panel, they may do so and place the settlement before the court.”
The five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said, “simultaneously the mediation process can go on along with the hearing, which is going on in Supreme Court and if an amicable settlement is reached by it, the same can be filed before the SC.”
