The Supreme Court on Friday ordered mediation in the Ayodhya title suit. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi passed the order to this effect.

Mediation will start within a week at Faizabad and state of UP has to make arrangements, the Supreme Court ruled. Mediation panel has to give its report within four weeks.

Follow LIVE updates here:

7.30 pm IST Since 1992, BJP has kept Ayodhya alive to be used in every poll: Congress “Since 1992, BJP has kept the issue alive so as to be used in every election for political vote garnering and relegate the Ram Mandir issue to the annals of history post-election -- to be revived again in the next election. We sincerely hope that people of India will see through the duplicity and doublespeak of BJP,” Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.





7.10 pm IST Resolution through mediation will be good for country: Ravi Shankar “If it (Ayodhya dispute) can be resolved through any mediation, it will be very good for the country,” Sr Sri Ravi Shankar, one of the mediators in the dispute, said





6.20 pm IST Can there be anything other than a mosque in Mecca and Madina, asks Giriraj Singh Union minister Giriraj Singh, known for his hardline stand on Hindutva issues, said he had no comments to offer on the court order, but asked Muslims “not to be obstinate” as he pitched for building the Ram temple. “Can there be anything other than a mosque in Mecca and Madina?... Do Hindus have not even this much right after partition that we can offer prayers to Lord Ram in Ayodhya?” he asked.





6.10 pm IST Will take every step to resolve Ayodhya issue amicably: Justice Kallifulla Retired Supreme Court judge F M I Kallifulla, head of the mediation team, says, “For the present, I can only say that if the committee has been constituted, we will take every step to resolve the dispute amicably.”





6 pm IST Resolution through dialogue would be most befitting: AIMPLB “It would be most befitting that the matter is resolved through dialogue...let’s see what happens now,” AIMPLB general secretary Maulana Wali Rehmani told PTI over phone, welcoming the decision.





5.50 pm IST Regrettable non-neutral person has been appointed as mediator: Owaisi MIM President Asaduddin Owaisi welcomed the Supreme Court order for mediation to settle the Ayodhya dispute, but voiced concern over Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar being made a mediator. He said the spiritual leader had warned that if Muslims did not give up the land, India will become a Syria. “This is regrettable that such a person who is not neutral has been appointed by the Supreme Court.”





5.40 pm IST Construction of Ram temple is non-negotiable: Subramanian Swamy There is no question of not building a temple where we believe Lord Ram was born, says BJP MP Subramanian Swamy, a petitioner in the case.





5.30 pm IST Cannot keep issue pending for long time, P Muralidhar Rao It is important to resolve the issue but it is more important and essential to build a grand temple at Sri Ram Janmbhoomi. This cannot be kept pending for a long time, says BJP general secretary P Muralidhar Rao.





5.20 pm IST One has to respect the Supreme Court order, says Uma Bharti One has to respect the Supreme Court order, says Union minister Uma Bharti, but asserted that she stands for building the Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya and a mosque can be built only outside its vicinity.





4.20 pm IST It is a very serious responsibility, says advocate Sriram Panchu “It is a very serious responsibility given to me by the Honourable Supreme Court. I will do my best,” says senior advocate Sriram Panchu, named by the Supreme Court as a member of the panel to mediate the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute.





2:02 pm IST Mediation is the only way: Sri Sri Ravishankar Sri Sri Ravishankar on being appointed in Ayodhya mediation panel by Supreme Court: I just heard of this news, I think this will be good for the country, mediation is the only way, reports news agency ANI.





1:06 pm IST We must all move together towards ending long-standing conflicts: Sri Sri Ravishankar Respecting everyone, turning dreams to reality, ending long-standing conflicts happily and maintaining harmony in society - we must all move together towards these goals, says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.





12:56 pm IST As a Hindu, I think, a temple should be made where Lord Ram was born: Uma Bharti Union Minister Uma Bharti: I don’t want to comment on the Supreme Court order. I don’t want to comment on the mediators named by the court. But as a Hindu, I think, a temple should be made where Lord Ram was born, reports news agency ANI.





12:45 pm IST It would have been better if Supreme Court had appointed a neutral person: Asaduddin Owaisi Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who has been appointed a mediator had earlier made a statement ‘if muslims don’t give up their claim on Ayodhya,India will become Syria.’ It would have been better if Supreme Court had appointed a neutral person: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, reports news agency ANI.





12:40 pm IST We will take every effort to resolve the issue amicably: Justice(Retd)FM Ibrahim Kalifullah Justice(Retd)FM Ibrahim Kalifullah on Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case: I understand Supreme Court has appointed a mediation committee headed by me. I am yet to receive order copy. I can say if committee has been constituted we will take every effort to resolve the issue amicably, says PM Narendra Modi.





11:29 am IST Will cooperate in mediation: AIMPLB member and convener of Babri Masjid Action Committee “We have already said that we will cooperate in the mediation. Now, whatever we have to say, we will say it to the mediation panel, not outside,” said AIMPLB member and convener of Babri Masjid Action Committee Zafaryab Jilani.





11:21 am IST We have already said that we will cooperate in the mediation: AIMPLB member and convener of Babri Masjid Action Committee Zafaryab Jilani AIMPLB member and convener of Babri Masjid Action Committee Zafaryab Jilani, on Supreme Court’s order on Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case: We have already said that we will cooperate in the mediation. Now, whatever we have to say, we will say it to the mediation panel, not outside, reports news agency ANI.





11:13 am IST No lord Ram devotee or saint wants delay in construction of Ram Mandir: UP dy CM “Won’t question Supreme Court order. In the past,efforts made to arrive at a solution, but with no success. No lord Ram devotee or saint wants delay in construction of Ram Mandir,” said UP deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya.





11:02 am IST Uttar Pradesh government to provide mediators all the facilities in Faizabad Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case: Supreme Court says, mediators can co-opt more on the panel if necessary. Uttar Pradesh government to provide mediators all the facilities in Faizabad. Mediators can seek further legal assistance as and when required, reports news agency ANI.





10:55 am IST SC directs panel of mediators may co-opt more members Supreme Court directs panel of mediators may co-opt more members and in case of any difficulty they can inform apex court registry, reports PTI.





10:52 am IST SC directs mediation proceedings shall be completed within 8 weeks Supreme Court directs mediation proceedings shall be completed within 8 weeks, reports PTI.





10:48 am IST Both parties have been directed to maintain utmost confidentiality Both parties have been directed to maintain utmost confidentiality. There ought not to be any reporting in print or electronic of the mediation process. Court says there is no legal infirmity in referring the dispute to mediation. Mediation will be in-camera proceedings. The panel had revert to the court registry if there are any hurdles in the process to start





10:46 am IST Supreme Court says mediation proceedings should be held on-camera Supreme Court says mediation proceedings should be held on-camera. Mediation process will be held in Faizabad. It will be headed by Justice FM Kaliifullah and also comprise Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior advocate Sriram Panchu, reports news agency ANI.





10:42 am IST Justice Khaliifulah (Retd) to be the chairman, for court appointed and monitored mediation for a “permanent solution Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case: Justice Khaliifulah (Retd) to be the chairman, for court appointed and monitored mediation for a “permanent solution”, reports news agency ANI.





10:41 am IST SC’s Constitution Bench refers Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for court appointed and monitored mediation Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench refers Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for court appointed and monitored mediation for a “permanent solution”



