Supreme Court orders parties to end arguments by October 18 in Ayodhya land dispute case

"If arguments do not get over on October 18, there cannot be an extra day," the Supreme Court said.

New Delhi: On the 32nd day of the hearing in the Ayodhya land dispute in Supreme Court, Chief Justice Of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi asked the Hindu and Muslim parties to end all arguments by October 18. The apex court has asked parties to stick to a time frame or else giving a judgment would not be possible.

"If arguments do not get over on October 18, there cannot be an extra day," SC said.

"Taking what you have given us (the volume of documents) it would be miraculous to get a judgment in four weeks," the court added.

The date for completion of arguments appears to be significant as Chief Justice is to retire by November 17. It is in this context he said it will be "miraculous" to get a judgment out in four weeks.

A Constitution bench, comprising five judges headed by the Chief Justice, is holding daily hearings in the case in which the Hindu and Muslim parties are contesting each other's claims seeking ownership of the 2.77-acre disputed land in Ayodhya.

In the court, the Muslim parties said that they will complete their arguments by Friday while the SC asked the Hindu parties to concise their reply submissions by Monday and Tuesday. October 2 will then be a holiday, following which Thursday and Friday will be used by the Muslim parties to make submissions on its suit (Suit 4 of 1961). 

Following a schedule to the hearings, SC plans to hear most arguments in the case by October 4, and complete them finally by October 14 on reopening after the Dushehra holidays. It will thus have five days to meet the October 18 deadline to end the hearing in the case. 

"We have 10-and-a-half days to conclude the arguments within the deadline," said the Chief Justice emphasising the need for careful allocation of time to counsels of the parties involved in the matter.