Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid dispute: All you need to know about the Ayodhya case

Ayodhya verdict: Following is the chronology of events in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case in which the Supreme Court Thursday declined to refer the issue of reconsideration of its observation that mosque was not integral to Islam, to a larger bench.

The Babri mosque dates back nearly 500 years when it was built in Ayodhya by Mir Baqi, a commander of the first Mughal emperor Babur, in 1528. Hence the mosque's name, Babri Masjid. Photo: AFP

NEW DELHI: Following is the chronology of events in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case in which the Supreme Court Thursday declined to refer the issue of reconsideration of its observation that mosque was not integral to Islam, to a larger bench:

• 1528: Babri Masjid built by Mir Baqi, commander of Mughal emperor Babur.
• 1885: Mahant Raghubir Das files plea in Faizabad district court seeking permission to build a canopy outside the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid structure. Court rejects plea.
• 1949: Idols of Ram Lalla placed under a central dome outside the disputed structure.
• 1950: Gopal Simla Visharad files suit in Faizabad district court for rights to worship the idols of Ram Lalla.
• 1950: Paramahansa Ramachandra Das files suit for continuation of worship and keeping the idols.
• 1959: Nirmohi Akhara files suit seeking possession of the site.
• 1981: UP Sunni Central Waqf Board files suit for possession of the site.
• Feb 1, 1986: Local court orders the government to open the site for Hindu worshippers.
• Aug 14, 1989: Allahabad HC ordered maintenance of status quo in respect of the disputed structure.
• Dec 6, 1992: Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid structure demolished.
• Apr 3, 1993: 'Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act' passed for acquisition of land by Centre in the disputed area.
• 1993: Various writ petitions, including one by Ismail Faruqui, filed at Allahabad HC challenging various aspects of the Act.
• Oct 24, 1994: SC says in the historic Ismail Faruqui case that a mosque was not integral to Islam.
• Apr, 2002: HC begins hearing on determining who owns the disputed site.
• Mar 13, 2003: SC says, in the Aslam alias Bhure case, no religious activity of any nature be allowed at the acquired land.
• Mar 14: SC says interim order passed should be operative till disposal of the civil suits in Allahabad HC to maintain communal harmony.
• Sep 30, 2010: HC, in a 2:1 majority, rules three-way division of disputed area between Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
• May 9, 2011: SC stays HC verdict on Ayodhya land dispute.
• Feb 26, 2016: Subramanian Swamy files plea in SC seeking construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site.
• Mar 21, 2017: CJI JS Khehar suggests out-of-court settlement among rival parties.
• Aug 7: SC constitutes three-judge bench to hear pleas challenging the 1994 verdict of the Allahabad HC.
• Aug 8: UP Shia Central Waqf Board tells SC mosque could be built in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the disputed site.
• Sep 11: SC directs Chief Justice of the Allahabad HC to nominate two additional district judges within ten days as observers to deal with the upkeep of the disputed site.
• Nov 20: UP Shia Central Waqf Board tells SC temple can be built in Ayodhya and mosque in Lucknow.
• Dec 1: Thirty-two civil rights activists file plea challenging the 2010 verdict of the Allahabad HC.
• Feb 8, 2018: SC starts hearing the civil appeals.
• Mar 14: SC rejects all interim pleas, including Swamy's, seeking to intervene as parties in the case.
• Apr 6: Rajeev Dhavan files plea in SC to refer the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgement to a larger bench.
• Jul 6: UP government tells SC some Muslim groups were trying to delay the hearing by seeking reconsideration of an observation in the 1994 verdict.
• Jul 20: SC reserves verdict.
• Sep 27: SC declines to refer the case to a five-judge Constitution bench. Case to be heard by a newly constituted three-judge bench on October 29.