Alert over Ayodhya mosque ruling

A RULING on whether Hindus or Muslims own land around a controversial demolished mosque has been delayed by order of India's Supreme Court.

It told a lower court in the north of the country to defer its verdict for fear it could spark widespread sectarian rioting.

The move comes as a relief for the government, which already has its hands full dealing with a separatist rebellion in Kashmir and is rushing against the clock to set right preparations for the Commonwealth Games.

The decades-old case over the 16th century Babri mosque in Uttar Pradesh is one of the biggest security challenges in India this year, along with a Maoist insurgency and a Kashmiri rebellion, prime minister Manmohan Singh has said.

Hindu mobs demolished the mosque in the town of Ayodhya in 1992, claiming it was built on the birthplace of their god-king Rama. The demolition triggered the worst religious riots since partition in 1947, claiming the lives of an estimated 2,000 people.

But the Supreme Court prevented the lower court from delivering its judgment scheduled for today and it is now unclear when the ruling will eventually be published.

The top court will now hear an appeal for a stay on the verdict on Tuesday, filed by a person who said the matter could be settled out of court.

"The petitioner obviously believes that if the Supreme Court lends a helping hand, a soothing touch, it is possible that the warring parties will see reason and try and bring a solution," Supreme Court lawyer Mukul Rohtagi said.

The oldest of the legal actions being decided dates back to 1949, and Rama is one of the petitioners. Under Indian law, a deity is a legal entity and can own property.

Lawyers for both sides said they were disappointed by the delay, saying the chances of a reconciliation were slim.

"I think that there is no chance of reconciliation," said Zafaryab Jilani, the lawyer for the Muslim group fighting the case. "Both parties are rigid and ready for the court judgment."

Similar sentiments were voiced by Ranjana Agnihotri, lawyer for the Hindu litigants, who added: "I think some politicians did not want this judgment to come out."

Federal and state governments had been on high alert ahead of the verdict, beefing up security and banning public meetings, processions and bulk mobile text messages that could be used to spread rumours and organise riots.

The verdict could prove a quandary for the Congress Party-led government. The party is a left-of-centre and has secular roots. A verdict in favour of the Hindus would force it to uphold the ruling, making it unpopular with Muslims.A decision for the Muslims would require it to evict Hindus from the site, creating a political flashpoint.