The Supreme Court has agreed to consider Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy's plea to remove restrictions on darshan of Lord Rama in the makeshift temple at Ayodhya.
Last year he moved an application to implead himself in the pending petitions, saying urgent orders were required as the matter had been pending adjudication for over 12 years, and the court allowed his impleadment.When the matter came up on Friday before a Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice Deepak Verma, Dr. Swamy said he had filed an affidavit as directed by the court seeking certain reliefs.
“My prayer is against the restrictions imposed on worship. I am not raising the question whether a Ram temple be built at the site or not.”
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The CJI told Dr. Swamy, “We will consider your plea. You will have to file a proper application so that the respondents can file response.” The Bench granted him three weeks to file an application.
In his affidavit, Dr. Swamy said the Allahabad High Court issued 12 directions in 1996 but the Supreme Court ordered status quo on May 10, 1996 and since then the matter had been pending adjudication. Irrespective of the final outcome of the title deed dispute pending in the High Court, authorities at Ayodhya should ensure adequate arrangements for darshan of the idols. Denial of the same was violative of devotees' fundamental rights, he said.