Ayodhya Verdict HIGHLIGHTS: SC Rules Ram Mandir On Disputed Site; Muslims Get Alternate Land Off Site

New Delhi: The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict in the politically sensitive case of Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya on Saturday. According to reports, the apex court is likely to pronounce judgement at 10:30 am in the morning. A 5-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, had reserved the judgement on October 16 after marathon hearing of 40 days.

Earlier in the day, Justice Gogoi held a highly confidential meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP), to apparently take stock of the law and order situation. According to sources, three judges from the five-member Ayodhya bench - Chief Justice Gogoi, Chief Justice-designate S A Bobde and Justice Ashok Bhushan attended the meeting with the Chief Secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari and the DGP.

It is learnt the discussion mainly focussed on the law and order situation in the state in view of the judgement, which is expected any time next week. "The meeting between the judges and the state officials began at 11.30 a.m. and ended at 1.00 p.m.," said a source familiar with the development. Sources said the judges asked the state officials if they needed any assistance in the form of an order to strengthen the law and order situation.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken stock of the state's security preparations with the senior civil and police officials and district magistrates and district police chiefs in view of the upcoming Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya dispute and festivals like Kartik Purnima, Prakash Parv and Barawafat. Yogi directed all senior officers to stay alert and spend the next fortnight maintaining a vigil in sensitive districts.

The Chief Minister also ordered setting up of a control room that would function 24X7 in each district and for stepping up security on commercial establishments, airports, bus and railway stations. He also ordered for a helicopter to be kept on standby in Ayodhya and Lucknow. Union Ministry of Home Affairs has sent an advisory to all states to remain alert.

A senior MHA official requesting anonymity said that a general advisory has been sent to all states and Union Territories asking them to remain alert and deploy adequate security personnel in all sensitive places and ensure that no untoward incident takes place anywhere in the country.

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The official said that the ministry has also has rushed 40 companies (around 100 personnel each) of paramilitary forces to Uttar Pradesh to assist the state government in maintaining law and order. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also asked his council of ministers to refrain from making unnecessary statements in connection with the Ayodhya verdict.

Apart from Ayodhya, the circular cautioned the Uttar Pradesh government to keep watch on highly sensitive areas in the state and deploy police force at specific locations, following apprehensions that "anti-social elements" may provoke religious sentiments of the people.

The apex court will deliver its verdict on a dispute over the ownership of 2.77 acre of land in Ayodhya on November 9, days before Chief Justice Gogoi retires. The Hindu parties, during the hearing, had argued that the entire 2.77 acres plot is the birthplace of Lord Ram while the Muslim parties claimed the title over the land, saying Muslims had ownership of the land since 1528 when the mosque was built.

(With inputs from agencies)