The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) is firm on its stand that an out-of-court settlement of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute is not possible as the issue is in the Supreme Court. It reiterated the stand following a meeting between the Sankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Jayendra Saraswati, and the AIMPLB executive member and Imam of Lucknow’s Aishbagh Idgah, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, on Saturday.
The Sankaracharya met Maulana Khalid Rasheed reportedly to seek his assistance in initiating a dialogue between Hindu and Muslim leaders for a possible out-of-court settlement.
Legal adviser to the Board Zafaryab Jilani said that since the case was in court, the possibility of holding talks did not exist.
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The Supreme Court verdict had to be awaited, he said. In fact, the AIMPLB did not give much credence to the Sankaracharya’s meeting with Maulana Khalid Rasheed — in 2002, the Sankaracharya suggested a “formula” to the Board, but it was rejected by AIMPLB president Maulana Rabey Ali Hasni Nadwi.
“Nothing emerged from the Sankaracharya’s talks with the Law Board earlier; nor would anything emerge in the future,” Mr. Jilani told The Hindu on Sunday.