The question is whether the Ayodhya verdict can be delivered

The moot-question is whether the Ayodhya verdict on the Ramajanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue can be delivered. The crucial problem has arisen on account of the fact that one of the judges of the three-member bench at Lucknow of the Allahabad High Court is slated to retire from service on September 30.

If the verdict is stayed beyond his retirement date, the whole exercise of determining the title of the disputed site would have to be decided afresh by going into all the aspects from the very beginning.

It seems people have been concerned about the stay granted by the Supreme Court on the issuance of the verdict by the Lucknow bench thinking that the apex court would not determine the issue before September 30.

To me that seems far-fetched. The Supreme Court which has decided to look into the question on September 28 can settle the issue on that day itself and if not possible the next day. This would enable the Lucknow bench to deliver the verdict on time.

If political parties decide to remain unruffled, the verdict on the title suit would not cause much damnation. In India, the political plank is the strongest. They can make or mar the very edifice of the society. Let the political stalwarts decide to rest the issue with the courts. The decision of the Lucknow bench is not the final answer. The disputing agents can appeal before the Supreme Court and can have threadbare arguments.

The most important aspect for Indians should be maintenance of peace and tranquility. In a world beset with umpteen and variegated problems, this should not batter India and its edifice.