Thread by @utkarsh_aanand

Day 40 of the hearing in the #Ayodhyacase begins with the #CJI making it clear that arguments will close at 5 pm today. "Enough is enough," says Justice Gogoi.

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#BabriMasjid
#RamMandir

Sr adv CS Vaidyanathan resumes his arguments, saying the #Muslim side hasn't given any evidence on exclusive possession or title.

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#BabriMasjid

Vaidyanathan argues there could be some evidence that the #Muslim side offered Friday prayers at the disputed site between 1857 & 1934. "But there is absolutely no evidence that they offered any prayer after that. On the other hand, #Hindus continued to worship".

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Vaidyanathan concludes, saying none of the claims regarding possession or title could be proved by the #Muslim side. "You can't have any other place called as #Ram #Janmabhoomi. They can offer prayer at several places but there can't be another #Janmabhoomi".

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#CJI to Sr adv Ranjit Kumar: Yes Mr Kumar..Yesterday you said you will take 2 minutes.

Kumar: That I said if I was allowed some time yesterday itself. Today is a new day. I will argue for some more.

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#BabriMasjid
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Kumar, appearing for the son of one of the first plaintiffs Gopal Singh Visharad, starts by asserting that he is a practising #Hindu. "It was repeatedly said from the other side that so & so is a practising #Muslim. I want to say I'm also a practising Hindu and know scriptures".

Kumar emphasises on his pre-existing to worship at the disputed site and seeks dismissal of the suit by the #Sunni Waqf Board.

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#RamMandir
#BabriMasjid

Kumar wraps up his argument. #SupremeCourt allows Sr adv Jaideep Gupta to present arguments on behalf of Nirvani Akhara & Mahant of Hanuman Garhi. While #NirmohiAkhara opposes it, #CJI says there is no harm in hearing him for 5 min.

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Nirvani Akhara says it has the real shebait right & not the #NirmohiAkhara. Gupta says late Baba Abhiram Das the priest of the disputed structure & that now his chela Baba Dharmdas asserts shebait right. They placed the idol inside in 1949, Gupta says.

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#BabriMasjid

Sr adv Vikas Singh, for #Hindu Mahasabha, seeks to place the book 'Ayodhya Revisited' by former IPS Kishore Kunal that talked about pre-existence of the #Ram temple.

Sr adv Rajeev Dhavan seriously objects to the #SupremeCourt taking this on record.

#AyodhyaCase

#CJI: Mr Vikas Singh.. Can I keep this book.

Singh: Yes my lord.

#CJI: I will start reading it now and will keep reading it in November and after that...will you also sign it for me?

P.S. #CJI retires Mid-november.

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#BabriMasjid
#RamMandir

CJI takes exception to loud arguments by Dhavan & others, says the judges will get up & go if proceedings go on like this. He also mentions these shouting matches are wasting the time & that the judges could go through the papers instead of hearing the lawyers. Singh placates CJI

Singh brings out a novel argument, citing Govt of India Act, 1858. He says the #Sunni Waqf Board was itself abolished in 1858 by operation of this Act, there can't be any question of British Govt sanctioning grants to the Board for upkeep of the #BabriMasjid.

#AyodhyaCase

Sr adv Sushil Kr Jain now gets his turn to argue on behalf of the #NirmohiAkhara. He asks for 1.5 hours but #CJI asks him to wrap up by 1 PM. "We don't have that kind of time left. Please conclude by 1," Justice Gogoi tells Jain.

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#Ayodhya Bench rises for the lunch break as Shia Waqf Board also concludes its submissions. Dhavan will get an hour after the break.

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Subramanian Swamy doesn't get an opportunity to argue in the present batch of #AyodhyaCase. #CJI tells @Swamy39 that his writ petition has been de-tagged and that the court will hear only the appeals. Swamy seeks permission to leave the court.

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#BabriMasjid

Sr adv PN Mishra is now arguing for Punaruddhar Samiti. He refers to Baburnama that mentions Babur followed Islam. This, Mishra says, demolishes the claim by the #Muslim side that Babur was a ruler & wasn't bound by any law of rules.

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#RamMandir

As Mishra continues to argue on chronology of events to show continuous prayers by Hindus & interpretations of the Hadith etc, Justice DY Chandrachud requests him to submit specifically on points of limitation. "We are now on the real essence of the matter," says the judge.

Rajeev Dhavan commences his final arguments, starts by saying he will address the issues point by point. Justice SA Nazeer says one of the questions also pertains to competency of the #Sunni Waqf Board to maintain the suit.

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Dhavan questions locus of Hindu Mahasabha, saying there are 8 factions and now 4 distinct submission in the Supreme Court. "Have they been honest enough to bring honest facts before the court?" questions Dhavan.

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About Mahant Dharmdas's suit on behalf of the Nirvani Akhara, Dhavan says they have never shown shebait but has only said they were pujaris.

On not making Gopal Singh Visharad's legal representative a party, Dhavan said Board wasn't obligated under law to do it.

#AyodhyaCase

#Ayodhya Bench asks Dhavan not to make personal comments.

"Don't make personal comments," Justice Chandrachud tells Dhavan, as the latter calls senior advocate PN Mishra's arguments as next to foolish.

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Dhavan counters arguments by K Parasaran, saying no 'Act of God' can be attributable to #Babur and hence the latter wasn't bound by any law.

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While Dhavan asserts that their claim isn't confined to the inner courtyard but also the outer area, Justice Chandrachud says their argument on limitation will be like treading on a thin ice because it would postulate the outer area wasn't in the possession of the #Muslim parties

Dhavan reiterates their demand is to restore the #BabriMasjid.

"Right to reconstruct the building also belongs to us. The bricks are still there...The place still belongs to Waqf," contends Dhavan.

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#RamMandir

Day 40 gets over as dramatically as was the entire day in the #Ayodhyacase. #CJI declares matter has been reserved for judgment & instead of oral arguments, parties shall submit written submissions on moulding of relief.

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#RamMandir