Twist In Ayodhya Review Plea, Rajeev Dhavan 'Sacked' As Muslim Counsel By Jamiat Ulema-E-Hind

A day after the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind filed a review petition against the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict, senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan was ‘sacked’ from the case. The senior advocate took to Facebook to post about the decision. “Just been sacked from the Babri case by AOR (Advocate on record) Ejaz Maqbool who was representing the Jamiat. Have sent formal letter accepting the 'sacking' without demur. No longer involved in the review or the case,” Dhavan said in a short Facebook post.

Dhavan alleged that Jamiat chief Maulana Arshad Madani was spreading rumours about his health. “I have been informed that Mr Madani has indicated that I was removed from the case because I was unwell. This is total nonsense. He has a right to instruct his lawyer AOR Ejaz Maqbool to sack me which he did on instructions. But the reason being floated is malicious and untrue.”

The Supreme Court in its verdict had said the entire 2.77 acres of disputed land should be handed over to the deity Ram Lalla, who was one of the three litigants. The five-judge Constitution bench also directed the Centre to allot a five-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board in Ayodhya to build a mosque.

However, not just the Jamiat, even the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has said a review petition will be filed before December 9.

But the Sunni Central Waqf Board has decided not to file a review plea. The Waqf board also said that it was yet to take a call on whether to accept a five-acre plot for a mosque. Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Sunday hit out at the AIMPLB and the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind for their decision to seek a review of the Ayodhya verdict, saying they are trying to create an “atmosphere of division and confrontation” after the matter was laid to rest by the apex court.

He also said that for the Muslims, the important issue is not just “Babri (mosque) but barabri (equality)” in areas of education, economic and social upliftment.

Earlier, Dhavan had sparked a new row when he said, “only Hindus disturb peace in the country, Muslims never do that.” He added, “Muslims will not file a review petition although injustice has been done to them.” His statement comes after All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) announced that it will file a review petition of the Ayodhya verdict in the Supreme Court.

Lashing out at Dhavan’s comment, BJP spokesperson Tuhin A Sinha said, “Rajeev Dhawan is less of a lawyer, more of a professional provocateur- intellectual thuggery being his only arsenal.”