AIMPLB to appeal in SC against Ayodhya verdict

The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) would appeal in the Supreme Court against the Ayodhya verdict, the Board decided on Saturday here at a meeting on the issue.

A three-member Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Sep 30 passed a verdict upholding the Hindu claim that the disputed site of Ayodhya, where a mosque stood before it was demolished by the Hindu kar sevaks in 1992, is the birthplace of Lord Rama, but ruled that the land would be divided into three parts with one third going to the Muslims along with one third for the Hindus.

Rejecting the Sunni Waqf Board and Nirmohi Akhara?s title suit, the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court said Hindu deity Lord Ram was born indeed on the disputed Ayodhya site, bringing a temporary closure on the 60-year-old dispute since the judgement would now be challenged in the Supreme Court as expected.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board was divided on the appeal since a section had suggested a compromise.

The 51-member committee of the Board took the decision Saturday to challenge the verdict. Former Justice Sagir Ahmed and Sunni Central Waqf Board chairman Zafar Ahmed Farooqui were present in the meeting where the Court verdict was discussed.

The Board in a press statement later said they felt that the judgement suffered from many infirmities.

Earlier on Oct 5, the Sunni Waqf Board announced its formal decision to challenge in Supreme Court the Allahabad High Court verdict in the Ayodhya title suit.

Shutting possibility of an out-of-court settlement, the decision to move the apex court was taken at a board meeting of the Sunni Waqf Board.

?On the basis of the legal advice from experts, it was decided at a board meeting to challenge the verdict in the apex court,? Zafar Ahmad Farooqui, chairman of the Waqf Board, said.