‘Lord Ram’s birthplace can’t be shifted’

New Delhi, May 17: There is no particular religious significance or importance attributable to the Babri Masjid structure in Ayodhya, while ‘janmasthan’ (birthplace) of Lord Ram is a particular place of religious significance for the Hindus, so it can’t be shifted, the deity’s counsel told the Supreme Court on Thursday. Senior Advocate K. Parasaran, appearing for deity Ram Lalla Virajman, told an apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that the birthplace cannot be shifted to another site, while a mosque with no particular religious significance to the Muslim public can be shifted as that will “not affect the right to practice religion by offering ‘namaz’ in other mosques”. “Admittedly, there are a number of other mosques at Ayodhya,” he argued, adding that the disputed 2.77 acres site at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh is a place of particular religious significance for the Hindus and “can’t be shifted”.

Addressing the bench, also comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer, Parasaran argued that the prayer for reconsideration of the 1994 five-Judge Constitution Bench judgment in the Ismail Faruqui case, in which it was held that a mosque was not an integral part of religious practice of offering prayers, was not maintainable in this case. On Wednesday, Parasaran contended that the suit property in Ayodhya is a place of particular religious significance for Hindus and to go on pilgrimage and worship therein is an essential part of Hindu religion and practice. He added: “No particular religious significance is pleaded qua the Babri Masjid which existed at Ayodhya before demolition. That Babar built the Masjid is a historical fact and not a fact of particular religious significance or importance. As regards the Hindus, the place being ‘janmasthan’ of Lord Ram is a particular place of religious significance. (IANS)