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NEW DELHI: In its final plea in the Ayodhya land dispute litigation, the Sunni Waqf Board told the Supreme Court to decide the historically important case in a manner which would be in sync with constitutional values dear to the country and deliver a judgment which would appeal to future generations.

Circulating its final plea on moulding of relief after filing it in sealed cover, the board through advocate Ejaz Maqbool said, “The SC decision, whichever way it goes, will impact future generations. It will also have consequences for the polity of this country. This court’s decision may impact the minds of millions who are citizens of this country and who believe in constitutional values embraced by all when India was declared a republic on January 26, 1950.

“Since the judgment of this court will have far reaching implications, it is for the court to consider the consequences of its historic judgment by moulding the relief in a fashion that will reflect the constitutional values that this great nation espouses. We hope the court, in moulding the relief, upholds our multi-religious and multi-cultural values in resolving the issues confronting it. Moulding the relief is the responsibility of this court, which itself is the sentinel of our Constitution.”

Though the board had placed its claim on the entire 1,500 square yards of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land, part of the disputed 2.77 acre area in Ayodhya, its counsel were taken aback by the SC-appointed mediation panel’s report that it had achieved a settlement, a key feature of which was Sunni Waqf Board’s readiness to give up its claim on the land for construction of Ram temple.

In its final say, the board said, “This court must also consider how future generations will view this verdict”.

