1. 1852 Riots & Ram Chabutra: The Ram Janmabhoomi dispute traces its origins back as far as 1852 when a riot erupted over the Ayodhya dispute.
Despite permission for prayers, the construction of a temple was denied. Attempts to build a canopy over the Ram Chabutra were rejected in 1885.
2. Ram Idols Reach Babri Masjid Premises: On September 23, 1949, idols of Lord Ram were said to be discovered inside the Babri Masjid.
The UP government's attempt to remove the idols faced opposition from then District Magistrate KK Nayar. Subsequent legal proceedings led to closure of the Babri Masjid for use as a mosque.
3. 37 Years Later, Disputed Babri Masjid Site Reopened: On February 1, 1986, Judge K.E.M. Pandey ordered the opening of the lock on the disputed Babri Masjid site within an hour.
The decision triggered a huge public gathering and someone broke the lock before the authorities could implement the court's order.
4. BJP Rath Yatra And Babri Masjid Demolition In 1990, under the leadership of LK Advani, the BJP organised a Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya.
The Rath Yatra ultimately paved the way for the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, by members of the BJP, VHP, Shiv Sena, and others.
The demolition also resulted in nationwide communal riots in which at least 2,000 people are reported to have died.
5. SC Verdict & End To Decades-Long Dispute: After unsuccessful attempts at mediation, the Supreme Court conducted daily hearings and delivered a historic verdict on November 9, 2019.
The SC bench awarded 2.77 acres of the disputed land to the Hindu side for Ram Janmabhoomi and allocated an additional 5 acres separately for the construction of a mosque.