HC RESERVES RULING IN BABRI TITLE SUIT

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on July 26 reserved its judgment in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title suit. The verdict is likely to be announced in September. After more than 60 years, the courtroom battle over the ownership and possession of the 16^th century structure is finally inching to a close. Mohammad Hashim, the oldest living plaintiff in the title suit case said, “I am very happy that the decision will be pronounced in my lifetime. I have fought this battle for six decades and have invested all I had in it. I am confident that justice will prevail in the end,” he said. The other plaintiffs including Baba Ramchandra Paramhans Das and Gopal Singh Visharad have already passed away. Interestingly, the case which progressed rather slowly, finally picked up speed in April 2002 after the High Court ordered a day-to-day hearing. The bench has since recorded evidence from 55 witnesses from one side and 34 witnesses from the other.