Justice Khan - Epilogue to Ram Janm Bhumi Babri Masjid Judgement
“My judgement is short, very short. Either I may be admired as an artist who knows where to stop, particularly in such a sensitive, delicate matter or I may be castigated for being so casual in such a momentous task. Sometimes patience is intense action, silence is speech and pauses are punches.” This is the epilogue at the end of Justice S U Khan’s 285-page judgment in the Ayodhya title suits. He reminds both the warring factions that “the one quality which epitomised the character of Ram is tyag (sacrifice)”. “When Prophet Mohammad entered into a treaty with the rival group at Hudayliyah, it appeared to be abject surrender even to his staunch supporters. However, the Koran described that as clear victory and it did prove so. Within a short span therefrom Muslims entered the Mecca as victors, and not a drop of blood was shed.” Admiring “our resilience” post demolition, Justice Khan warns: “We must realise that such things do not happen in quick succession. Another fall and we may ...