The Faizabad administration had issued notice to 25 litigants on behalf of the Supreme Court-appointed panel.

Twenty-five litigants in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case along with their counsels appeared on Wednesday before a Supreme Court-appointed mediation panel, in Faizabad, officials said.

The Faizabad administration had issued notice to the litigants on behalf of the panel.

The mediation process will take place at a hall at the Faizabad Avadh University, the officials said, adding that no one had been allowed to enter the area.

Heavy security

Heavy security arrangements are in place, Faizabad District Magistrate Anuj Kumar Jha said.

The three-member panel, comprising retired judge Justice Kalifullah, senior advocate Sriram Panchu and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar arrived in Faizabad on Tuesday, he said.

They would stay in Faizabad for three days as per a programme given by the panel, the officials said.