Why this matters now
Babri-Ayodhya is tested for: pre-1992 timeline (Babur 1528 mosque construction; 1885 Mahant Raghuvar Das suit; 1949 idol placement Dec 22-23; 1986 Faizabad district judge unlocked gates; 1989 VHP shilanyas); L.K. Advani Rath Yatra 25 Sept - 30 Oct 1990; Mulayam “parinda nahi maar sakta”; 6 December 1992 demolition; Narasimha Rao’s alleged silence; Mumbai riots 1992-93 + Mumbai serial blasts 12 March 1993 (257 killed); Liberhan Commission 30 June 2009 report; SC Allahabad HC 30 Sept 2010 verdict (Sunni Waqf, Nirmohi Akhara, Ram Lalla 3-way division); SC 5-judge verdict 9 Nov 2019; Ram Mandir Trust + temple consecration 22 Jan 2024.
Pre-1992 Timeline
- 1528: Babri Masjid built at Ayodhya by Mughal commander Mir Baqi for Emperor Babur. Hindus claim Ram Janmabhoomi temple existed earlier.
- 1853-55: First communal violence over disputed structure.
- 1858-59: British divided Babri compound — Hindus prayed outside, Muslims inside.
- 29 Jan 1885: Mahant Raghuvar Das filed first civil suit seeking permission to build a temple in outer courtyard. Dismissed.
- Night of 22-23 December 1949: Idols of Ram Lalla mysteriously appeared inside the mosque. UP CM G.B. Pant + Home Min Sardar Patel decided to keep status quo. Gates locked; both sides denied access.
- 16 Jan 1950: Gopal Singh Visharad filed civil suit; permitted Hindu worship at outer courtyard.
- 1959 + 1961: Nirmohi Akhara + Sunni Central Waqf Board filed counter-suits.
- 1 Feb 1986: Faizabad District Judge K.M. Pandey unlocked the gates — allowing Hindu worship within. Politically engineered (Rajiv Govt).
- 1989: VHP shilanyas (foundation-stone-laying) at the contested site Nov 1989.
- 25 Sept - 30 Oct 1990: L.K. Advani Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya. Arrested at Samastipur by Lalu Prasad Yadav 23 Oct 1990. V.P. Singh govt fell 7 Nov.
6 December 1992 Demolition
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1991-92 | BJP won UP 1991 election; Kalyan Singh CM. VHP announced kar seva 6-9 Dec 1992. Liberty assurance given to SC. |
| 4-5 Dec 1992 | ~1.5 lakh kar sevaks gathered Ayodhya. RSS, VHP, BJP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena leaders present incl Advani + Murli Manohar Joshi + Uma Bharti + Vinay Katiyar + Bal Thackeray. |
| 6 Dec 1992 11:55 IST | Kar sevaks breached cordon; climbed onto masjid domes. |
| 6 Dec 1992 12:15-17:00 | 3 domes demolished with crowbars + ropes + ladders + hand tools over 5 hours. Make-shift Ram temple constructed by night. |
| 6 Dec 1992 evening | Kalyan Singh resigned UP CM. President Rule imposed. |
| 10 Dec 1992 | Communal violence broke out across India. Mumbai riots Dec 1992 + Jan 1993 (Sri Krishna Commission later, 900+ killed). Mumbai blasts 12 March 1993 (Dawood-Tiger Memon-Yakub Memon, 257 killed in 13 RDX blasts). |
Liberhan Commission + CBI
- 16 Dec 1992: Narasimha Rao Govt appointed Liberhan Commission of Inquiry (Justice M.S. Liberhan retd HC). 17 years!
- 30 June 2009: Liberhan Report submitted (1029 pages) — named 68 culprits including L.K. Advani, A.B. Vajpayee, M.M. Joshi, Uma Bharti, Kalyan Singh, Vinay Katiyar; held Vajpayee + Advani + Joshi as “pseudo-moderates”.
- 2017 CBI case: Supreme Court restored conspiracy charges against Advani+Joshi+Uma Bharti+Kalyan Singh.
- 30 Sept 2020: CBI special court Lucknow acquitted all 32 accused (incl Advani+Joshi+Uma Bharti+Kalyan Singh).
SC 9 November 2019 Ayodhya Verdict
Allahabad HC 3-judge bench 30 September 2010 awarded 1/3 to Sunni Waqf + 1/3 to Nirmohi Akhara + 1/3 to Ram Lalla. All sides appealed to Supreme Court.
9 November 2019: SC 5-judge unanimous bench (CJI Ranjan Gogoi + J. S.A. Bobde + J. D.Y. Chandrachud + J. Ashok Bhushan + J. S. Abdul Nazeer) delivered the 1,045-page Ayodhya verdict in M. Siddiq (D) thr LR v. Mahant Suresh Das & Ors:
- Awarded the entire 2.77-acre disputed land to Ram Lalla deity for Ram temple construction; Government to constitute Trust within 3 months.
- Awarded 5 acres of alternative land to Sunni Central Waqf Board to build a mosque.
- Sunni Waqf Board’s 1885 title suit barred by limitation; Nirmohi Akhara’s suit dismissed as not maintainable but recognised as shebait (caretaker).
- Acknowledged 1992 demolition as “egregious violation of rule of law”.
- Archaeological Survey of India 2003 report: pre-existing structure beneath mosque, not Islamic, dated 12th century.
Ram Mandir consecration 22 January 2024
5 February 2020: Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust established by GoI. Nritya Gopal Das chair.
5 August 2020: PM Modi laid Ram Mandir foundation (bhumi pujan) at Ayodhya. Construction by L&T (engineering) + Tata Consulting Engineers (project management) + Shree Sompura family architects.
22 January 2024: PM Narendra Modi performed Pran Pratishtha (consecration) of the Ram Lalla murti at the new Ram Mandir, Ayodhya. Designed in Nagara style: 161 ft tall, 3 storey, granite + sandstone, no steel. Idol designed by Mysore sculptor Arun Yogiraj. Estimated cost Rs 1,800 crore.
UPSC angle
Know BABRI MASJID DEMOLITION 6 DECEMBER 1992 + AYODHYA VERDICT 9 NOV 2019 + RAM MANDIR 22 JAN 2024; TIMELINE: 1528 Babri built by Mir Baqi for Babur; 1853-55 first communal violence; 1858-59 British divided; MAHANT RAGHUVAR DAS first civil suit 29 Jan 1885; NIGHT 22-23 DEC 1949 Ram Lalla idols mysteriously placed inside, Pant+Patel status quo, gates locked; Gopal Singh Visharad 16 Jan 1950 + Nirmohi Akhara 1959 + Sunni Waqf 1961 suits; 1 FEB 1986 Faizabad DJ K.M. PANDEY UNLOCKED GATES (Rajiv engineered); VHP shilanyas Nov 1989; L.K. ADVANI RATH YATRA 25 SEPT - 30 OCT 1990 SOMNATH TO AYODHYA, ARRESTED SAMASTIPUR by LALU PRASAD YADAV 23 Oct 1990, V.P. Singh govt fell 7 Nov; 1991 BJP won UP, Kalyan Singh CM, kar seva 6-9 Dec 1992 SC liberty assurance; 4-5 Dec 1992 ~1.5 lakh kar sevaks Ayodhya (RSS+VHP+BJP+Bajrang+Shiv Sena: Advani+Joshi+Uma Bharti+Vinay Katiyar+Thackeray); 6 DEC 1992 11:55 cordon breached, 12:15-17:00 3 DOMES DEMOLISHED 5 hours crowbars+ropes+ladders, make-shift Ram temple by night, Kalyan Singh resigned CM, President Rule UP; communal violence India: MUMBAI RIOTS Dec 1992-Jan 1993 (Sri Krishna Commission 900+ killed); MUMBAI BLASTS 12 MARCH 1993 (Dawood-Tiger Memon-Yakub Memon 13 RDX 257 killed); LIBERHAN COMMISSION OF INQUIRY appointed 16 Dec 1992 J. M.S. Liberhan, REPORT 30 JUNE 2009 (1029 pages, 68 culprits incl Advani+Vajpayee+Joshi+Uma+Kalyan+Katiyar, Vajpayee-Advani-Joshi “pseudo-moderates”); CBI special court Lucknow 30 SEPT 2020 ACQUITTED ALL 32 incl Advani+Joshi+Uma+Kalyan; ALLAHABAD HC 3-judge 30 SEPT 2010 awarded 1/3 each Sunni Waqf+Nirmohi Akhara+Ram Lalla; SC 5-JUDGE UNANIMOUS BENCH 9 NOVEMBER 2019 (CJI RANJAN GOGOI + S.A. Bobde + D.Y. Chandrachud + Ashok Bhushan + S. Abdul Nazeer) 1045 PAGE M. SIDDIQ v MAHANT SURESH DAS: entire 2.77 acre to RAM LALLA + 5 acres alternative to Sunni Waqf, Sunni Waqf 1885 limitation barred, Nirmohi <em>shebait</em>, ASI 2003 report pre-existing structure 12th century not Islamic, 1992 demolition “egregious violation rule of law”; Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust 5 Feb 2020 (Nritya Gopal Das chair); PM Modi BHUMI PUJAN 5 Aug 2020; L&T + Tata Consulting + Sompura architects; PM MODI PRAN PRATISHTHA 22 JANUARY 2024 (Nagara style 161 ft 3 storey granite+sandstone no steel, Arun Yogiraj sculptor, Rs 1800 cr).
Frequently asked questions
When was the Babri Masjid demolished?
On 6 December 1992 by an estimated 1.5 lakh kar sevaks at Ayodhya — over a 5-hour period from 12:15 to 17:00. UP CM Kalyan Singh resigned the same day; President’s Rule was imposed.
What was the Liberhan Commission?
Justice M.S. Liberhan’s 17-year inquiry into the 1992 demolition. Report submitted 30 June 2009 — 1,029 pages naming 68 culprits including L.K. Advani, A.B. Vajpayee, M.M. Joshi, Uma Bharti, Kalyan Singh, Vinay Katiyar.
What did the SC’s Ayodhya verdict say?
9 November 2019 — the 5-judge unanimous bench (CJI Gogoi-led) awarded the entire 2.77-acre disputed land to Ram Lalla for Ram temple construction; awarded 5 acres of alternative land to Sunni Central Waqf Board for a mosque.
When was the Ram Mandir consecrated?
22 January 2024 — PM Modi performed the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla at the new Nagara-style temple at Ayodhya. Architects: Sompura family. Sculptor: Arun Yogiraj (Mysore).