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Ayodhya case: Nirvani Akhara files note on right to manage deity's worship

New Delhi, Oct 22


The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Nirvani Akhara, one of the Hindu parties in Ayodhya title dispute, to file a note seeking right to manage the worship of deity as Shebait, a person who takes care of the deity and manages its daily affairs.

The counsel representing Akhara mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, as his client erroneously missed the deadline for filing the note on moulding of relief. The Akhara's counsel sought court's permission to file the document in the registry. The court permitted the counsel to file the documentation.

Both -- Nirmohi Akhara and Nirvani Akhara -- have contested each other's stand as the Shebait at the birthplace of Lord Ram, which is at the centre of the Ayodhya title dispute.

Seeking relief, the Nirvani Akhara said that none of the Hindus parties has made claims for right of Shebaitship, instead claiming to be next "friend" of the deity or the manager of the disputed site. Therefore, the Shebaitship of the Nirvani Akhara remains unchallenged, which was made a defendant in two separate lawsuits - one filed by UP Sunni Central Wakf Board in 1961 and deity 'Ram Lalla', through next friend Deoki Nandan Agarwal, in 1989. The Nirmohi Akhara had filed the suit seeking Shebait right in 1959.

Nirvani, during the hearing, submitted before the court that Mahant Abhiram Das, now deceased, was the priest representing it at the site in 1949. He was allegedly named in the FIR for allegedly placing idols below the central dome in the disputed site. Currently, one of his followers, Dharam Das, is the priest.

The five-judge apex court bench reserved the verdict on October 16 after concluding the 40-day-long hearing and directed the parties concerned to file their response on moulding of relief within three days.