(a) whether the Government is planning to bring a law for the building of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, if so, the details thereof; and
(b) whether the Constitution allow the Government of India to be involved in the building of a religious place and if so, the details thereof?
A N S W E R
MINISTER OF LAW AND JUSTICE, COMMUNICATIONS AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)
(a) No sir. However there were long standing disputes in the Courts which were finally decided by a five judge bench of the Supreme Court of India, where the Court directed as follows:
i. The Central Government, within three months formulates a scheme under Section 6 and 7 of the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, 1993. The scheme will envisage the setting up of a Trust and further make provisions for functioning of the Trust including its management and for construction of a temple and all necessary and supplementary matters.
ii. Possession of the inner and outer courtyard shall be handed over to the trust or body so constituted. The Central Government will be at liberty to make suitable provisions in respect of the rest of the acquired land by handing it over to the trust or body in terms of the scheme so framed.
iii. Simultaneously, with the handing over of the disputed property to the Trust or body, a suitable plot of land measuring 5 acres shall inter alia be given to the Sunni Waqf Board by (a) Central Government out of the acquired land or (b) by the state government at a suitable prominent place in Ayodhya.
(b) The Government in these matters performs its obligations as per well laid Constitutional norms as also on the directions of the Supreme Court, as mentioned above.