Waqf Board to move SC against Allahabad HC order

Waqf Board to move SC against Allahabad HC order

Sunni Waqf Board on Thursday said it will move the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court order dividing the disputed land in Ayodhya among three parties and said they were not going to surrender it.

"We will appeal against the division of disputed land among three parties," Board lawyer Zafaryab Jilani told reporters in Lucknow.

"HC's formula of one-third land is not acceptable to the Waqf Board and it will appeal against it in the apex court," he said.

He said they were not going to surrender the land.

However, he said, the Sunni Board is open to any negotiated settlement on the issue if such a proposal for negotiations for a settlement came to it.

"Talks can happen if a proposal comes," he said.

"This proposal would be tabeled before the All India Muslim Personal Law Board for consideration but we won't accept any proposal to surrender," he said.

Jilani said the Board has time to appeal in the SC as status quo would be maintained for the next 90 days.

"The Board will move the apex court after a meeting of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. We are not in hurry as we have 90 days time to appeal as a matter of right," Jilani said.

"However much cannot be said at this stage as we are yet to study the judgement in detail. Still, we are of the firm view that no public resentment is required as the matter can be taken to the SC and there is no reason for any loss of hope in favour of the Mosque," he added.

Welcoming the Allahabad High Court's decision, chairman of Sri Ram Janmbhoomi Trust, Nritya Gopal Das said they would challenge the decision to provide one third of the disputed land to Sunni Central Waqf Board, in the Supreme Court.

"We welcome the verdict, but will challenge the decision to give one third land to the Sunni Central Waqf Board in the apex court," Das said.