Justice Chelameswar, former Supreme Court judge, speaking at an interactive session hosted by the All India Professionals Congress, an organisation affiliated to the Congress party, reportedly said that it is possible for the government to bring a law to construct the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, even when the dispute is before the Supreme Court.
Justice Chelameswar was among the four senior judges of Supreme Court who held the unprecedented press conference to question the style of functioning of the former CJI Deepak Mishra. CPI MP D Raja’s conspicuous visit at Justice Chelmeswar’s house had further triggered a political storm. Responding to a question during the interactive session, Justice (Retired) Chelameswar said it could happen. “Legally if it can happen (or not) is one aspect. Whether it will happen (or not) is another. I’m aware of instances that happened in the past where decisions of the Supreme Court were scuttled by the legislative process,” he said.
He cited the example of the Karnataka Vidhan Sabha which passed a law to overturn the SC order on the Cauvery water dispute and another instance of an inter-state water dispute between Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. “The nation should have opened up to these things much earlier. This (a law on Ram temple) is possible as we did not stop it then,” he added.
His comments came at a time when the clamour for Ram Mandir is rising day by day. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had earlier on Friday said that Hindus were feeling “insulted” by the Supreme Court’s declaration that the Ayodhya issue is not a priority and insisted that an ordinance would be needed if all options run out. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has too set the deadline of 31 January for the government to bring a law, it has stated that unless the central government brings a law, a Dharma Sansad of Hindu spiritual leaders will decide the future course of action on the issue in the Ardh Kumbh.