By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board today unanimously resolved to appeal in the Supreme Court against the September 30 Ayodhya verdict given by the Allahabad High Court. The Board decided to continue backing Sunni Wakf Board, Muslims party in the case, and when need be the Board itself will intervene.
Board’s Working Committee meeting was held today at Nadwatul Ulama in Lucknow. President of the Board Maulana Syed Mohammad Rabey Hasani Nadwi presided the meeting wherein members discussed the verdict of Lucknow Bench of Allhabad HC.
L-R: SQR Ilyas, YH Muchala, Abdur Raheem Qureshi, Zafaryab Jilani, Hamza Hashmi
“The meeting felt that this judgment suffers from number of infirmities. The Hon’ble Court has given precedence to rule of faith over rule of law. The Board considers it to be the right, obligation and compulsion of the Indian Muslims to challenge the judgment in the Apex Court and remove distortions introduced by the judgment in the established norms of the jurisprudence. In these circumstances the Board decides that this verdict be challenged in the Supreme Court,” the Board meeting resolved.
A closed-door gathering of the 51-member executive followed the Sep 30 verdict of the Allahabad High Court that decided to divide the disputed 90 ft x 120 ft plot of land in Ayodhya into three equal parts – two to two separate Hindu parties involved in the case and one to the Sunni Central Waqf Board, representing Muslims.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Board leaders made it clear that they are not going to become party to the case at this stage. They will continue backing Sunni Wakf Board. However, they said they have kept option to intervene in the case open.
“We will continue backing the Muslim party in the case. However, the Board’s Legal Cell and the president of the Board have been authorized to intervene in the case when required,” said senior advocate YH Muchala who is also convenor of the Legal Cell of the Board.
He also said Board’s today’s decision is final and from now on any different voice on the issue will be that of an individual, not the board.
Asked why they are challenging the HC verdict, Muchala said: “We are not satisfied with the judgment. It has overruled Constitution and given weight to faith over law. We urge the Supreme Court to remove the anomalies in this verdict. Rule of faith cannot be basis of a judgment by court and thus we are going to challenge it in the court.”
On reconciliation over the issue, SQR Ilyas, member of Legal Cell, said: We are ready for that. But such reconciliation will be on the basis of three points: Sharia Law, Muslims interest and Constitution of India.
Asked if they have any problem if a mosque and temple stand side by side, Board general secretary Abdur Raheem Qureshi said: there are many mosques in the country standing along with a temple side by side. We have no objection on it. But in Ayodhya case we cannot accept it as it was not proved the mosque was built after demolishing a temple.”
Asked what they would do if the Supreme Court upheld the HC verdict, Advocate Zafaryab Jilani said: “We have always maintained that the last decision of the court will be acceptable to us.”