GenNext likely to face Babri tangle-Lucknow, October 10, 2010

GenNext likely to face Babri tangle

M Hasan, Hindustan Times

Lucknow, October 10, 2010

First Published: 21:00 IST(10/10/2010)

Last Updated: 21:02 IST(10/10/2010)

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) is all set to pass on contentious Babri Masjid issue to next generation. Instead of going for out-of-court compromise the AIMPLB legal committee has favoured adjudication by the apex court. The 51-member working Committee scheduled to meet in Lucknow on October 16 will discuss recommendations of legal and Babri Masjid committees and take a final decision. The board would also decide about joining the case directly.

In view of long pendency of the cases an early solution to the tangle in apex court is unlikely. There is a strong feeling in the legal community that the case would be pending for several years for final hearing in the apex court. Talking to HT on Sunday Supreme Court advocate Lalit Singh Chauhan said on regular basis the appeal would at least take five to six years. He said the court might provide interim relief, as all the three parties are likely to seek status quo in the case. Chauhan said a lot of time would be required to read the bulky decision of the High Court. The case took 21 years in special bench of Lucknow High Court.

It is for this reason a section in AIMPLB has been pressing for compromise to draw a curtain on the centuries old contentious issue.

“We want next generation not to face conflicting issues”, said president Jamiat Ulema-I-Hind Maulana Mahmood Madni. He said the younger generation should be provided peaceful opportunity to march ahead. Madni has called upon the community to accept the verdict.

But hard-core in the board are unbending on the issue, which for the first time has also led to dissension in the Muslims’ apex body on any issue. Naib Imam Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli, Kamal Farooqui and now Mahmood Madni have openly favoured compromise to end the issue. Some more members have also extended silent support to this group. Rashid told HT “we will take it up at the meeting”.

“Since these members have raised the issue, the board would consider it”, said senior advocate Zafaryab Jilani here on Sunday.

Even though main Muslim party in case Sunni Central Waqf Board (SCWB) has already announced to move apex court, the stamp of AIMPLB is required because it had all along been extending the financial support to the case. The fund-starved SCWB doesn’t have enough finances to even meet its basic requirement of payment of salaries.