Mumbai: Fearing that the release of his upcoming film "Thugs of Hindostan" will be stalled, Bollywood Superstar Aamir Khan on Thursday refused to comment on the Ayodhy verdict which went by its 1994 verdict that said mosques are not integral to Islam.
"Our film is about to release. Hence I can't comment anything about the SC verdict. For, if I say anything, the release of my film could be stalled", Aamir Khan said when reporters posed him a question during the trailer launch of "Thugs of Hindostan" Thursday.
"I will answer all your questions once the film is smoothly released", the Bollywood Superstar, known for producing blockbuster films, said.
Aamir Khan had faced trouble back in 2015 when while participating in a debate he had merely shared with his audience his wife Kiran Rao's wish to shift in some other countries fearing the safety of their children. The comments were made in the context of rising hate crimes against Dalits, Muslims and interfaith couples.
The Supreme Court of India Thursday refused to revist its 1994 verdict that said mosques are not essential part of Islam and prayers can be offered anywhere. In the same verdict, the Apex Court had said a government can acquire land that a mosque is built on if required.
"The ruling will not be referred to a larger bench", the Supreme Court said.
Earlier, it was reported that the three-judge bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer will be reading two separate opinions in the case.
"The finding of the 1994 ruling that a mosque is not integral to Islam was made in context of the State's right acquire land under eminent domain", Justice Bhushan said.
Justice Bhushan has authored a judgment for himself and CJI Misra while Justice Nazeer has penned his own opinion. The above ruling was read by Justice Bhushan on behalf of CJI Dipak Misra and him.
Justice Nazeer, one of the three judges of the Supreme Court bench, however dissented with fellow judges and said the matter should be referred to a larger bench.
"I disagree with my brother judges", Justice Nazeer said.
"What is essential to religion as laid down in [in the 1994 ruling] was arrived at without comprehensive examination", he added.
"The issue whether mosque is an integral part of Islam needs to be considered by a Constitution Bench," Justice Nazeer said in his dissenting note.
The Muslim organisations wanted the 1994 SC ruling revisited saying that it was unfair to them and that this decades-old decision played a role in the disputed land in Ayodhya being divided in 2010 into three parts by the Allahabad High Court which split the land between Hindu and Muslim parties, though the main part was given to Hindus.
The 16th century Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished in broad day light on December 06, 1992. A series of riots in different parts of India including Mumbai which continued for months erupted after the demolition of Babri Masjid.
Hindu extremists, including many leaders associated with the RSS, VHP and BJP, were involved in the demolition of Babri Masjid and the anti-Muslim riots that followed.
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