New Delhi: A day after the Supreme Court concluded the marathon hearings in the politically sensitive Ayodhya land dispute case, the five judge bench hearing the dispute will sit “in chambers” on Thursday.

According to reports, the judges are likely to discuss the report submitted by the court-appointed mediation panel headed by former apex court judge, F.M.I. Kalifullah and comprising ace mediator Sriram Panchu and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar.

A notice in this regard has been issued by the Supreme Court saying that Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and four other judges will sit in chambers, where parties involved are not allowed.

"Take notice that on Thursday the October 17, the Chief Justice, Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer will sit in chambers", the notice said.

The bench on Wednesday concluded the hearings and reserved the judgment in the 70-year-old case.

The bench heard for 40 days the arguments of the Hindu and the Muslim parties.

It granted three days to contesting parties to file written notes on 'moulding of relief' or narrowing down the issues on which the court is required to adjudicate.

Sources said that it is apparent that the panel has reached some kind of settlement among Hindu and Muslim parties in litigation on the Ayodhya land dispute.

The court had initiated daily hearing in the matter on August 6, after the mediation to amicably resolve the issue failed.

Counsel for the Ram Lalla Virajman had, however, submitted in the apex court that they have pulled out of mediation, and instead seek a judgement on the matter.

The Supreme Court has ordered to maintain confidentiality in the contents of the mediation report.

According to sources, it is likely that the apex court may engage with the counsels on the basis of this mediation report.
(with inputs from agencies)