Chronology of Babri Masjid legal suits

The 60 years of disputes between the Hindus and the Muslims on the Ayodhya Ram mandir and Babri mosque has come for the verdict on Sep 24 2010.



1885 - The first suit was filed by Mahant Raghubir, seeking permission to build a temple on Ram Chabootra. But petitioners were not accepted by the Faizabad district court in 1886.

1950 - Second was by flied Hashim Ansari in the Faizabad court asking for the mosque gates to be opened and namaz allowed. Soon after which Gopal Visharad and Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das filed a suit asking for permission to offer prayers to deities at Asthan Janmabhoomi.

1959 - The third suit was filed by the the Nirmohi akhara (headed by Mahant Bhaskar Das) in the Faizabad court asking to remove Priya Dutt Ram from the management of the "temple" and take charge himself.

1961 - A fourth suit was filed by the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board asking for the restoration of the Muslims' right to pray at the mosque.

1964 - All three suits filed by Hindus and the one filed by the Waqf Board are consolidated as suit No. 12/196, becoming the main case in the dispute.

1989 - VHP steps up campaign, laying the foundations of a Rama temple on land adjacent to the disputed mosque. Former VHP vice-president Justice Deoki Nandan Agarwal files a case, seeking the mosque be shifted elsewhere.

1992 - The mosque was razed by a Hindu mob, resulting widespread clashes between the Hindus and the Muslims in which more than 2,000 people lost their lives.

Jan 7, 1993 -  After the demolition, the President Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma sends a single-point reference under Article 143 to the Supreme Court to decide whether a Hindu temple existed in the area on which "the structure" stood.

Oct 1994 - The SC declines to answer the Presidential Reference and returns it.

The criminal cases are still on hold against 49 persons, including L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharati. They are accused of conspiring to demolish the Babri Masjid on Dec 6, 1992.

Apr 2002 - Arson attack on Ayodhya pilgrims in Godhra leaving 58 dead, spark clashes in Gujarat. This was followed by Allahabad High Court bench who began hearing on title suit.

Sep 2003 - A court rules that seven Hindu leaders should stand trial for creating the destruction of the Babri Mosque, but no charges are brought against Mr Advani, who was also at the site in 1992.

Nov 2004 - A court in Uttar Pradesh rules that Mr Advani 's role in the destruction of the mosque should be reviewed.

Jul 2010 -  High Court wraps up title suit hearing, verdict awaited.


Sep 23, 2010- A day ahead of the Allahabad High Court verdict, the Supreme Court stayed the judgment.

Read: SC stays Ayodhya verdict; to hear deferment plea on Sep 28

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