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Updated: Dec 05, 2017 20:06 IST

The Supreme Court on Tuesday listed February 8 next year for hearing civil appeals over the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute in Ayodhya.

Earlier in the day, the top court began the final hearing in the Babri Masjid-Ram temple dispute case , a day before the 25th anniversary of the mosque’s demolition in Ayodhya. A special bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, justice Ashok Bhushan and justice S Abdul Nazeer assembled at 2pm on Tuesday to hear a total of 13 appeals filed against the 2010 judgment of the Allahabad high court in four civil suits.

The high court had then ruled a three-way division of the disputed 2.77 acre area at Ayodhya among the parties — the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and the deity Ram Lalla (Ram as an infant).

Here are the highlights:

7:35pm: Who he represents in court is Kapil Sibal’s personal matter, Congress has nothing to do with it. Arun Jaitley ji was a lawyer in Bhopal gas tragedy, does that mean whole of BJP is to be blamed? questions Randeep Surjewala.

7:30pm: Congress leader Randeep Sujrewala responds to Amit Shah’s statements, says the party’s stand has been clear and the top court will decide the Ayodhya case. The “same has been said by the law minister many times. BJP is playing the role of ‘Manthara’”, says Sujrewala.

6pm: BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao tries to corner the opposition Congress over Sibal’s submission in the apex court. “By seeking deferment of the Ayodhya case until after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Kapil Sibal has politicised the legal dispute. The Congress must clarify if Sibal is representing it or the Sunni Waqf Board? Or, is it the case that the board and the Congress are working in tandem?” he asked.

5:52pm: “Rahul ji (Gandhi) is visiting temples in Gujarat but on the other hand, Kapil Sibal is being used to delay Ram Janmbhoomi case. Rahul ji should tell us what his view on this is,” ANI quotes Amit Shah as saying.

5:45pm: The Congress took a surprising stand by asking SC to defer the final hearing till after 2019 Lok Sabha election. The party should clear its stand on this, says BJP president Amit Shah, referring to Kapil Sibal who was representing the Sunni Waqf Board on Tuesday.

5:15pm: Centre advises states and Union Territories to be alert and take precautions to maintain peace and harmony ahead of the 25th anniversary of Babri demolition tomorrow, ANI quotes MHA sources as saying.

3:50pm: The top court fixes February 8, 2018, for hearing civil appeals regarding the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute.

High-voltage hearing in #babrimasjid case.

Advs for Sunni wakf board demand hearing post look Sabha elections in July 2019

lawyers for Ram Lalla and UP govt term such a plea as inappropriate.

SC fixes Feb 8,2018 to start the hearing @htTweets — bhadra sinha (@BhadraSinha) December 5, 2017

3:12pm: The Supreme Court directs advocates on record of the appeals to sit together and ensure that all documents are filed and numbered.

SC grants advocates in #babrimasjid case time to complete filing of documents . Asks lawyers for both parties to work in harmony and see which documents have been filed and r yet to be filed.

A common memorandum will be given to the court on documents filed @htTweets — bhadra sinha (@BhadraSinha) December 5, 2017

3.08pm: The SC halts hearing to take stock of the documents filed and not filed.

3.03pm: The SC says it agrees it’s not an ordinary suit. “But need to start somewhere,” it adds.

3.02pm: Kapil Sibal says the court must give a reason for giving an urgent hearing.

2.55pm: Kapil Sibal tells the SC whenever the Ayodhya matter is heard,there are serious repercussions outside the court. He says to preserve the decorum of law and order, he requests the court to take up the matter on July 15, 2019, once all the pleadings are complete and after elections.

2.47pm: Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhawan, Dushyant Dave -- all representing the Sunni Wakf Board -- threaten to walk out.

2.43pm: Senior advocate Rajeev Dhawan says refer the matter to a larger bench.

2.33pm: Sibal tells the SC and and other petitioners have not been served relevant documents of pleadings.

2.26pm: Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing Uttar Pradesh, rebuts all remarks by Sibal. He tells the SC that all the related documents and requisite translation copies are on record

2.16pm: Kapil Sibal tells the SC a total number of 19,590 documents were to be filed in the apex court

2.12pm: Kapil Sibal tells the SC all reports of the ASI have not been placed in court

2.10pm: Kapil sibal, appearing for the Sunni Wakf board, reads out the details of exhibits filed by the contesting defendants before the Allahabad High Court. He says pleadings in the case are not complete

2.08pm: Supreme Court begins hearing in Ayodhya dispute case.

*Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentarian Subramanian Swamy, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Shia Waqf Board chief Waseem Rizvi have emerged as the new faces in the case. Read full story.

*Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya on December 1992, here’s a closer look at the dispute that divided India.

*Former Bihar chief minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad was catapulted to the national stage when he ordered the arrest of BJP leader LK Advani in 1990, in the run-up to the eventual demolition of the Babri Masjid two years later. Advani was then marching through parts of North India on his Rath Yatra.

Twenty-five years later, Prasad tells Anirban Guha Roy that he suspects the demolition was a ploy by right wing forces to weaken the movement for backward classes empowerment after the Mandal commission recommendations on job quotas was implemented. Read the excerpts of the interview.

*It was a temple and will remain one: Kar sevaks recall Babri Masjid demolition