Muslim Personal Law Board terms Supreme Court order ‘unfortunate’

HYDERABAD - The All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the apex body of Indian Muslims, Thursday termed as “unfortunate” the Supreme Court order deferring the pronouncement of the verdict in the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi case.

The board demanded immediate pronouncement of the court saying “we must face the truth”. It suspects malafide intentions behind the petition against delivering of the verdict.

“The Supreme Court should not have entertained the petition and it should not have deferred the pronouncement of the verdict because the issue has been in the court for so many years. It has served the conspiracy of some people who want to delay the judgment,” board assistant general secretary Abdul Rahim Qureshi told IANS.

He alleged that some elements who don’t want the pronouncement of the verdict by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court were behind the petition. “These people don’t want the idols from the mosque to be removed,” he said.

Pointing out that the title suit was pending in the court since 1950, the Muslim leader cautioned that not pronouncing the verdict before the retirement of one of the three judges of the high court would further complicate matters.

One of the judges is retiring Sep 30 and if the verdict is not pronounced, the arguments have to be heard all over again, he claimed.

Qureshi said there was not even one percent chance of an amicable settlement. He was reacting to the observation made by one of the two apex court judges that if there is one percent of chance of conciliation it should be explored.

He said the board would make its stand clear before the Supreme Court on Sep 28. “We want the verdict to be pronounced as early as possible. Let the truth come out. We must face the truth,” he averred.

On the petitioner’s apprehension that pronouncement of the verdict may lead to violence, Qureshi said if the government has the will it can control any situation.