Govt moves SC to return 67-acre land around Ayodhya site to original owners

In its application, the Centre has sought modification of the Supreme Court's orders in 2003 and 2011 by which a complete status quo was imposed on entire 67.7 acre of the land acquired by the government in 1993.

The government submitted that before the court that the original landowners, which included 42 acre of acquired land of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, were "entitled" to get their land back.

The plea has said that the Ram Janambhoomi Nyas had sought return of excess land acquired in 1991 to original owners.

"It is respectfully submitted that the acquisition took place in the year 1993 and 25 years have passed, the original landowners whose land, which were not in dispute but were still acquired, are entitled to get it back and the Central government is duty bound to restore/revert/hand over the same land," stated the application.

Fourteen appeals have been filed in the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgement, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77-acre land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

The government pointed out that outcome of the appeal pending before the Supreme Court at this stage will not have any impact on the excess land that was acquired and hence there is no legal impediment in allowing the Centre to restore the land to the Nyas and other original land owners.

CNN-News 18 quoted Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad as saying that the temple-mosque case must be heard in court without delay. "The Ayodhya case has been pending for the last 70 years. The Allahabad High Court order was in favour of the temple (in 2010), but then it is on hold in the Supreme Court now. This matter should be cleared soon," he said.