'Judgment will vindicate rule of law in India'

Zafaryab Jilani, Mushtaq Ahmad Siddiqi and Syed Irfan Ahmad, advocates who represent the parties seeking the construction of a mosque in the Ayodhya title suit, have appealed to the people to accept the judgment by the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court as the vindication of the rule of law.

 "Today's judgment is likely to strengthen the basic features of the Constitution and the confidence of the people, especially of the minorities, on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. Today, the special bench of the Allahabad high court is likely to pronounce the judgment in a case which had started more than 60 years ago. The general feeling of the countrymen was that the case may never be decided. Our judiciary is likely to vindicate today that it is not influenced by any considerations other than those which are recognised by the law of the land," they said.

"These cases related to the title and possession of Babri Masjid are apparently between two communities but actually they relate to the secular fabric of the country," they added.

"Today's decision will be taken on the basis of admissible evidence and principles of law recognised by our judicial system. Whatever may be the findings of the court, the one issue likely to be vindicated today is that our judiciary is competent and has the courage to decide each and every sort of dispute," they said.

"Today's judgment should not be taken by the people of India in the sense of victory or defeat of any party or community. Rather, they should take it as the victory of the rule of law and the independence of judiciary. Any party to the dispute which may feel dissatisfied with the judgment as a whole or with any portion thereof can approach the Supreme Court. As such, we have to behave in a very responsible and disciplined manner and should not express our sentiments or feelings in any such manner which may offend the feelings or sentiments of others," they said.