Ayodhya Verdict: Indian Holy Site 'To Be Divided'
BBC NEWS
September 30, 2010: A court in India has ruled that the disputed holy site in Ayodhya should be split with the Muslim community getting control of a third, Hindus another third and the remainder going to a minority Hindu sect called Nirmohi Akhara, which was one of the early litigants in the case. The Hindus will keep the area where a small tent-shrine to Ram has been erected. It said that the current status of the site should continue for the next three months to allow for the land to be peacefully measured and divided.
The area of dispute is the centers around land 130ft (40m) x 90ft (27m) where mosque stood. Court cases over the issue date back to 1949. So far, 18 judges have heard the case. Key issue is whether the temple was demolished on the orders of Mughal emperor Babar in 1528. Other questions are whether the mosque was built according to Islamic law and whether Hindus put idols inside it in 1949.
Both Hindu and Muslim lawyers say they will appeal against the ruling in the 60-year-old case to the Supreme Court, which is likely to delay a final decision still further.