Ayodhya Ram Mandir – How Long is the Wait for Justice?
- In History & Culture
- 10:09 PM, Aug 18, 2019
- Digamber Eslampure
The Ayodhya Ram Mandir issue is perhaps one of the longest pending legal cases in the Indian judicial system. Indian judicial system did not give deserved priority to it. This issue has been pending in various Indian courts for more than 60 years.
If the cases are between countries, then one can understand this kind of long delay. But this issue was an internal issue. I personally feel this issue shouldn’t have taken more than a century to solve or pronounce the verdict. Generations of Indian are continuing to wait for the court judgment on this case. Finally, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case on a daily basis and apparently soon Supreme Court will pronounce its judgment on the case. This should have happened decades before.
The Indian judicial system has time and resources to pronounce the judgment on differences between what is chappal and what is sandal and numerous other similar cases but did not give the urgency and importance to the Ram Mandir issue it deserves. Few people argue that this issue is getting delayed because it has been dragged into politics. But that is far from the truth. Bharatiya Janata Party is roughly 40 years old, but this issue is much older than that. This issue should not have been in the politics of India, had it been given the attention and sincerity it deserves.
This issue has huge cultural significance not only for Hindus and Indians but throughout south-east Asia. Shri Ram is worshiped across various South East Asian countries and cultures. This issue highlights true tolerance and patience of India, especially Hindus, who despite being in a majority, did not force their way to build temple, and are still waiting for the court’s judgment. In any other country, if the citizens approach the judiciary to deliver justice on its place of worship, which has deep historical, religious and socio-cultural significance, not just to the people of the country but to the larger world, then it wouldn’t have taken this much time to get the judgment.
The ruling party since Independence had the opportunity to solve this issue, but no government took this issue seriously until Bharatiya Janata Party spearheaded this issue and drafted it in its manifesto. Congress party and its leaders tried to use this issue to win 1989 elections but failed. Former Indian Prime Minister, late Rajiv Gandhi, started his general election campaign from Ayodhya in 1989, the same party and some of its leaders, who happen to be lawyers, delayed this case in the court.
Bharatiya Janata Party took a stand that it will support the Ram Temple in Ayodhya within the legal and constitutional framework, as per BJP’s 2019 general election manifesto, BJP “will explore all possibilities within the framework of the Constitution and all necessary efforts to facilitate the expeditious construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.”
What are the options for government, which got elected with such a huge popular mandate to address this issue? Naturally, highly popular mandates come with high expectations. So far, Modi 2.0 government ensured that the mandate they have received will not be wasted, the government is delivering on its key promises be it Triple Talaq Bill to provide gender justice to Muslim women or removal of Article 370 & 35 A and correcting historical mistakes.
Going by the decisions Modi government took so far, next big thing it can deliver to the Indian public is providing the solution to the Ram Mandir issue. There are many options the government can take and force the judiciary to act fast. But in most of the instances when a popularly elected government tries to force the judiciary or negates judiciary’s decision, then it invites trouble. Case in point is handling of Shah Banu Case by Rajiv Gandhi government. I am certain that the current government will not make the same mistakes which were made by previous governments.
The government will have to wait until the Supreme Court delivers its verdict; after the court verdict, the government can bring ordinance like it did in triple talaq case. However, the government can ensure that there should be no delay from the government side and should provide everything court would need from its end.
On the judicial side, the Supreme Court should deliver the judgment without further delay after this day to day hearings. It should deliver its final verdict without further inquiries, committees, and reports on this issue. So many committees have been formed, numerous inquiries have been done, and their findings have been provided to the courts in this matter including a report by Archeological Survey of India. It’s time for justice.
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