Ayodhya:Judges say divide disputed land into 3

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday ruled by a majority verdict that the disputed land in Ayodhya be divided equally into three parts among Hindus and Muslims and that the place where the makeshift temple of Lord Ram exists belongs to Hindus.

One-third portion will go to Hindus (a third for Ram Lalla), another one-third to Muslims(one-third for the Waqf Board) and the last one-third to the other (a third for the Nirmohi Akhara

), until then, the land will remain in the custody of the federal government.

The court said in its verdict the issue between the Hindus and Muslims should be resolved through negotiations between the two sides.

The controversial land of Babri Masjid will remain in possession of the federation, as the case of Sunni Board has been dismissed, according to media reports, 'The Sunni Waqf Board says it will appeal in the Supreme Court against the Ayodhya verdict delivered today in Lucknow.'

In the separate judgements on the sensitive 60-year old title dispute on Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid structure, Justices S U Khan and Sudhir Agarwal said that the area under the central dome of the three-domed structure where Lord Ram's idol exists belongs to Hindus.

Justices Khan and Agarwal decreed that the 2.7 acre land comprising the disputed site should be divided three equal parts and be given to Sunni Waqf Board, and the party representing 'Ram Lala Virajman' (Ram deity).

However, the third judge Justice D V Sharma ruled that that the disputed site is the birth place of Lord Ram and that the disputed building constructed by Mughal emperor Babur was built against the tenets of Islam and did not have the character of the mosque.

Justice Khan said "all the three sets of parties, i.e. Muslims, Hindus and Nirmohi Akhara are declared joint title holders of the property/premises in dispute as described by letters A B C D E F in the map Plan-I prepared by Shri Shiv Shankar Lal, Pleader/Commissioner appointed by court in Suit No. 1 to the extent of 1/3rd share each for using and managing the same for worshipping. A preliminary decree to this effect is passed.

According to media, the judges who gave the verdict tendered the resignation.