The Supreme Court order staying the September 30, 2010 judgment of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court that directed division of 2.77 acres of land of the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya into three parts among Hindus, Muslims and the Nirmohi Akhara is most welcome (May 10). It sends a strong message to the narrowly confined sectarians and pseudo patriots that the larger judicial exercise is strong, free from bias, fear, and dishonesty, infusing confidence to those in despair.
Shafee Ahmed Ko,
Chennai
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The Allahabad High Court's judgment on Ayodhya was not based on a strict interpretation of the law. It was a well-intentioned attempt to find a solution to a contentious issue with the judicial imprimatur . It was not surprising, therefore, that the Supreme Court has stayed the verdict as being legally inappropriate.
At the same time, adjudicating on matters of faith has always posed serious challenges to courts. It is still not too late to try an out-of-court settlement. The disputants should give up their inflexible positions, sit together and try to hammer out a workable solution in a spirit of mutual trust. Honourable compromises where there are no losers but all victors can heal past wounds better than judicial verdicts based on cold logic.
T.K.S. Thathachari,
Secunderabad
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The Supreme Court has shown its integrity by staying the verdict. This will create trust in the country's judicial system.
E. Sunny Joseph Mala,
Thrissur
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The Supreme Court stay is a positive signal and instills hope that the Ayodhya issue that bristles with legal intricacies of national and religious importance is being viewed through the right prism of the law.
C. Chandrasekaran,
Madurai
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What has happened may again be a temporary solution. It is fortunate that the earlier High Court decision was received with calm. In 1921, Gandhiji said a real change of heart on the part of the people and accepting friendship were an eternal factor of national life. The principle of Albert Einstein that peace cannot be achieved through violence but can only be attained through understanding must be followed by all.
A.J. Rangarajan,
Chennai
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Perhaps the issue can be amicably settled within seconds if the parties concerned sit together with an open mind. Can't they set a model for future generations by unanimously requesting government takeover of the land to be preserved as a monument and as a symbol of the unique secularism of our nation?
Ramesan P.,
Kollam
