A timeline of the Ayodhya Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute

The crucial verdict in the Ayodhya Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case will be announced today. The verdict is likely to be pronounced at 10.30 am by a five-judge Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed for calm ahead of the verdict and the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered all schools and colleges in the state to remain shut today.

Here are a few twists and turns in the landmark case:

1528: Mosque built by Babur’s commander Mir Baqi


1850-85: First recorded incident of violence in Ayodhya. Mahant Raghubar Das files plea in Faizabad district court seeking permission to build a canopy outside the disputed structure

Dec, 1949: Idols of Rama, Sita placed inside the temple by unknown persons.

1950: Gopal Visharad files suit in a Faizabad court for right to worship the idols; Paramahansa Ramachandra Das files suit seeking to continue worship and keep the idols

1959: Nirmohi Akhara files suit seeking possession of the site

1981: UP Sunni Central Waqf Board files suit for possession

1986: Local court allows opening of gates, allows Hindus to offer prayers.

Aug-Sept 1989: Allahabad HC bunches dispute petitions for hearing, orders status quo. Rajiv Gandhi government allows VHP’s shila yatra on the assurance it would maintain status quo

Nov, 1989: Rajiv Gandhi government lets VHP perform shilanyas for temple

1990-91: LK Advani begins rath yatra to garner support for temple. Kar sevaks turn violent in Ayodhya, several activists are killed in police firing.

Dec 6, 1992: Babri Masjid structure demolished

Apr 3, 1993: Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act passed to acquire land by Centre in and around the disputed area

1993: Various writ petitions, including one by Ismail Faruqui, filed at Allahabad HC challenging Act

Oct 24, 1994: Mosque not integral to worship in Islam, SC rules

Sep 30, 2010: HC, in a 2:1 majority, orders a three-way division of disputed area between Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and Sunni Central Wakf Board.

May 9, 2011: SC stays HC verdict

Feb 26, 2016: Subramanian Swamy files plea in SC seeking to press for his right to worship and construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site

Aug 7, 2016: SC sets up 3-judge bench to hear pleas to reopen the 1994 verdict

Mar 14, 2018: SC rejects all interim pleas, including Swamy’s, seeking to intervene as parties in the case

Apr 6, 2018: Rajeev Dhavan seeks reconsideration of ruling in its Faruqui judgement to a larger bench; UP opposes it as a delaying tactic.

Sep 27, 2018: SC declines to refer the case to a Constitution bench. Instead constitutes three-judge bench on October 29, 2018, to hear title suit on merit.

Jan 25, 2019: CJI Gogoi sets up a five-judge bench to hear the case overruling earlier CJI Dipak Misra’s judicial order setting up a three-judge bench

Oct 16, 2019: SC five-judge bench reserves judgement