Ayodhya Verdict: What Is Article 142 That Supreme Court Used?

In one of the most important and much-awaited judgements in India's history, a 5-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi put an end to the more than a century-old dispute that has torn the social fabric of the nation. The top court backed the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. In its 1,045 pages long verdict, the top court handed over the disputed 2.77-acre land to deity Ram Lalla and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in a prominent place in Ayodhya. 

Exercising its powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the top court bench - is headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi with Justices SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer - directed that the Central Government or Uttar Pradesh government should allot land measuring 5 acres to the Sunni Central Waqf Board for construction of the mosque within Ayodhya.

It also directed the Centre to formulate a scheme within three months for setting up of a trust with a board of trustees to construct the temple.

What is Article 142?

The Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it, and any decree so passed or orders so made shall be enforceable throughout the territory of India in such manner as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament and, until provision in that behalf is so made, in such manner as the President may by order prescribe.

However, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said ‘I don't understand the exercise of Article 142 of the Constitution by the Supreme Court. It is unusual. We are not satisfied with this."

Sunni Waqf Board lawyer Zafaryab Jilani had similar opinion. Jilani said that he doesn't think that the scope of Article 142 allows the court to take one's vested right. However, he emphasized added that the committee respects the judgement of the court regardless.

Sadhus hail Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya 

A number of Sadhus (saints) in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday hailed the Supreme Court judgement on the Ayodhya land dispute. Settling a fractious issue that goes back more than a century, the top court in a historic verdict on Saturday backed the construction of a Ram temple by a government trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in the Hindu holy town.

Senior priest at Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya Mahant Raju Das termed the judgement as "historic" and "landmark".

"I welcome the SC judgement. This is a very good judgment and I would like to congratulate the Supreme Court and the chief justice," he said.

Mahant Sanjay Das of the temple was seen lighting crackers amid jubilation among his young followers after the Supreme Court verdict.