Ayodhya land dispute: Supreme Court to consider mediation panel’s report

  1. The Supreme Court is likely to consider the “outcome” of mediation proceedings conducted by a panel set up to resolve the Ayodhya Dispute. The Ayodhya case pertains to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute.
  2. The Supreme Court had referred the Ayodhya case for mediation. The court had invoked Section 89 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) to propose mediation as an “effective utilisation of time”. Section 89 enables civil courts to refer parties to alternative dispute resolution so that the disputes may get resolved earlier.
  3. The Supreme Court had formed a three-member panel for mediation. The panel of mediators comprises former apex court judge Justice F.M.I. Kalifulla, as Chairman; and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu, as members.
  4. Mediation is one of the methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). ADR is the procedure for settling disputes without litigation.
  5. Mediation is a procedure in which the parties discuss their disputes with the assistance of a trained impartial third person(s) who assists them in reaching a settlement.