Ayodhya case: Tempers run high in Supreme Court

Senior counsel Rajiv Dhavan, appearing for the Muslim side, tore an alleged historic map of the Ram Janmabhoomi site before the Constitution bench.

He lost his cool when Advocate Vikas Kumar Singh representing Hindu Mahasabha, presented a book titled 'Ayodhya revisited', authored by Kunal Kishore, before the constitution bench which comprises Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S A Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer.

Dhavan objected.

Counsel urged the apex court that this book should not be brought on record as it has been written recently and cannot be taken as evidence. Dhavan submitted that the book was published in 1986 and he cannot talk about it.

Singh said that there is an order of court that it could be placed. "Justices wrote the foreword for the book," he said adding that it could be placed before the court. He also said that in chapter 24 of the book- a kitchen being in Vayu Kon of Janmasthan is mentioned. The well is located south west of janmasthan which is exactly located as per the book.

The Hindu Mahasabha lawyer then cited a map, and under the rules handed it over to Dhawan, who tore it apart in front of everyone.

CJI Gogoi, in an angry tone, told Dhawan to tear anything else, to which he shredded more documents.

The CJI then warned, "If this continues, we will get up and leave." 

Image: UNI