Nearly 500 years after the masjid was constructed and about two decades since it was razed, a medieval religious dispute has entered the 21st century
1528 | Mir Baqi, a noble under Mughal emperor Babar, builds the mosque. Hindus claim it was built on a temple which is the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. The dispute continues through the British Rule
1949 | Idols of Lord Ram appear inside the mosque, allegedly placed by some Hindus. Muslims protest & both parties file civil suits. Hashim Ansari was plaintiff for Muslims & Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das for Hindus. The govt proclaims the premises disputed & locks the gates
1949 | Idols of Lord Ram appear inside the mosque, allegedly placed by some Hindus. Muslims protest & both parties file civil suits. Hashim Ansari was plaintiff for Muslims & Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das for Hindus. The govt proclaims the premises disputed & locks the gates
1950 |Gopal Singh Visharad and Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das file suits in Faizabad, asking for permission to offer prayers to the idols installed at Janmasthan. Inner courtyard gates are locked, but puja is allowed
1959 | Nirmohi Akhara and Mahant Raghunath file a case, seeking permission to conduct puja
1961 | Sunni Central Board of Waqfs, UP, files a case claiming the mosque and the surrounding land was a graveyard
1984 | VHP forms a group to spearhead temple movement. BJP leader LK Advani, takes over leadership of the campaign
1959 | Nirmohi Akhara and Mahant Raghunath file a case, seeking permission to conduct puja
1961 | Sunni Central Board of Waqfs, UP, files a case claiming the mosque and the surrounding land was a graveyard
1984 | VHP forms a group to spearhead temple movement. BJP leader LK Advani, takes over leadership of the campaign
Feb 1, 1986 | Faizabad district judge orders the gates of disputed
shrine to be opened to Hindus for worship. Babri Masjid Action Committee formed shortly thereafter
1989 | Then PM Rajiv Gandhi allowed shilanyas, or ground breaking ceremony, at a nearby undisputed site. The hearing of the case is shifted to the high court
shrine to be opened to Hindus for worship. Babri Masjid Action Committee formed shortly thereafter
1989 | Then PM Rajiv Gandhi allowed shilanyas, or ground breaking ceremony, at a nearby undisputed site. The hearing of the case is shifted to the high court
Sep 25, 1990 | Then BJP president LK Advani launches Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya
Nov 1990 | Advani’s Rath Yatra is stopped & he’s arrested in Samastipur, Bihar. Following this, the VP Singh-led coalition govt, propped by the Left & BJP, falls after the BJP withdraws support
Dec 6, 1992 | The disputed structure is demolished & P V Narasimha Rao-led Congress government lets a makeshift temple appear in its place before moving the court for status quo
Mar 5, 2003 | The Allahabad high court orders the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake excavation of the disputed site to ascertain whether a temple existed at the place where the Babri Masjid was constructed
Aug 22, 2003| ASI submits its final report to the Allahabad high court. The 574-page report says that excavations found distinctive features of a 10th century temple beneath the Babri Masjid site
Aug 31, 2003 |
All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) announces that it will challenge the ASI report on Ayodhya excavations Jul 26, 2010 | The bench reserves its judgment in the 60-yearold case, offers all parties a chance for amicable settlement. But nobody comes forward
Sep 8, 2010 | The HC bench announces that the verdict will be delivered on Sept 24
Sep 14 | A writ is filed to defer the judgment and consider peaceful settlement of the dispute but the court dismisses the writ on Sept 17. The HC will deliver its verdict on Thursday at 3.30 pm
Nov 1990 | Advani’s Rath Yatra is stopped & he’s arrested in Samastipur, Bihar. Following this, the VP Singh-led coalition govt, propped by the Left & BJP, falls after the BJP withdraws support
Dec 6, 1992 | The disputed structure is demolished & P V Narasimha Rao-led Congress government lets a makeshift temple appear in its place before moving the court for status quo
Mar 5, 2003 | The Allahabad high court orders the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake excavation of the disputed site to ascertain whether a temple existed at the place where the Babri Masjid was constructed
Aug 22, 2003| ASI submits its final report to the Allahabad high court. The 574-page report says that excavations found distinctive features of a 10th century temple beneath the Babri Masjid site
Aug 31, 2003 |
All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) announces that it will challenge the ASI report on Ayodhya excavations Jul 26, 2010 | The bench reserves its judgment in the 60-yearold case, offers all parties a chance for amicable settlement. But nobody comes forward
Sep 8, 2010 | The HC bench announces that the verdict will be delivered on Sept 24
Sep 14 | A writ is filed to defer the judgment and consider peaceful settlement of the dispute but the court dismisses the writ on Sept 17. The HC will deliver its verdict on Thursday at 3.30 pm
