Babri Masjid Demolition Case: A timeline (representational image)
Babri Masjid Case: The verdict by a special court in the Babri Masjid demolition case comes 28 years after kar sevaks razed the 16th century mosque and almost a year after the Supreme Court settled the land case in favour of a Ram temple at the disputed Ayodhya site.
Babri Demolition Case Timeline
- 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 structure. Court rejects the plea.
- 1949: Idols of Ram Lalla placed under central dome outside the disputed structure.
- 1950: Gopal Simla Visharad files suit in Faizabad district court for right to worship the idols of Ram Lalla.
- Paramahansa Ramachandra Das files suit for continuation of worship and keeping the idols.
- 1959: Nirmohi Akhara files suit seeking possession of the site.
- 1961: UP Sunni Central Waqf Board files suit for possession of the site.
- February 1986: Local court orders the government to open the site to Hindu worshippers.
- August 1989: Allahabad HC orders status quo in respect of the disputed structure.
- December 6, 1992: Babri Masjid demolished.
- December 1992: Two FIRs filed in the case. One against unknown kar sevaks for demolition of the mosque. The other names BJP leaders LK Advani, MM Joshi and others for allegedly giving communal speeches before the demolition.
- October 1993: CBI files composite charge sheet accusing LK Advani and others of conspiracy.
- May 2001: Special CBI court drops proceedings against LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti, Bal Thackeray and others.
- November 2004: CBI challenges before the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court the dropping of proceedings against BJP leaders on technical grounds. Court issues notices.
- May 2010: High court dismisses plea. Says no merit in CBI's revision petition.
- September 2010: In a 2:1 majority, High Court rules three-way division of disputed area between Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
- May 2011: Supreme Court stays High Court verdict on Ayodhya land dispute.
- February 2011: CBI moves Supreme Court against high court order in the mosque demolition case.
- March 2017: Supreme Court indicates it may consider reviving conspiracy charge against the BJP leaders in Babri Masjid demolition case. Supreme Court suggests fresh attempts to resolve Ayodhya dispute.
- April 2017: Supreme Court favours time-bound completion of trial in the case and reserves order on CBI's plea.
- Supreme Court restores criminal conspiracy charge against leaders including LK Advani, MM Joshi and Uma Bharti and clubs the trials in the matters pending against VIPs and kar sevaks.
- November 2019: Supreme Court grants entire disputed land in Ayodhya to deity Ram Lalla, directs govt to allot an alternative five-acre plot to Muslims to build mosque.
- August 2020: PM Narendra Modi conducts bhoomi pujan' in Ayodhya, launches construction of Ram temple.
- Supreme Court extends by a month the deadline for completion of trial in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
- September 30: Special Judge SK Yadav delivers judgment in the mosque demolition case, all accused acquitted.