SC verdict on Ayodhya case brought joy and relief to members of Hindu and Muslim communities: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

"I wholeheartedly welcome the historic judgment of the Hon. Supreme Court. This has brought joy and relief to people of both communities from a long-standing dispute," the spiritual leader, who was part of the mediation panel earlier appointed by the apex court for an amicable resolution of the dispute, tweeted.

In a historic judgement to a politically-sensitive Ayodhya case which has been raging for almost 70 years, the Supreme Court on Saturday paved way for the construction of Ram Temple in the disputed 2.77 acres of land in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya dismissing the Sunni Waqf Board's claim to the land. The apex court also directed that a mosque be built over 5 acres in a prominent location.

Amid a tightened security across the nation and particularly in Uttar Pradesh, a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi asked the Indian government to set up a trust within three months to decide on the disputed Ayodhya land for the Hindus to build a temple, while they asked for a five-acre land for the Muslims to construct a mosque in a prominent alternative location.

Inner and outer land should be given to the trust, the court said in the 70-year-old legal dispute. In a unanimous judgement, the Sunni Waqf Board was given 5 acres of alternate land.

The disputed land now goes effectively in possession of the Indian government.