The Supreme Court (SC), on Saturday appreciated the efforts of the mediators in the Ayodhya mediation panel and said that they came very close to a 'settlement'. A panel of mediators led by justice FM Khalifullah had failed to reach a consensus in the Ram Janmabhoomi Babri Masjid dispute case. The inability of the panel to reach a consensus was followed by the Supreme Court convening a day-to-day hearing of the case and concluding the hearing procedure in 40 days.

"They came very close to a settlement. Thanks for all their efforts," the Supreme Court said during the verdict.

In a historic judgment, the Supreme Court ordered the Central government within 3-4 months to formulate a scheme for setting up of trust and hand over the disputed site to it for construction of a temple at the site and a suitable alternative plot of land measuring five-acres at Ayodhya will be given to Sunni Wakf Board.

"There is evidence that Ram Chabutra, Sita Rasoi was worshipped by the Hindus before the British came. Evidence in the records shows that Hindus were in the possession of outer court of the disputed land," the apex court said.

FM Khalifulah, Art of Living head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Senior Advocate and trained mediator Sriram Panchu were the members of the mediation panel that was constituted by the Supreme Court in March 2019. In August, the panel submitted a report to the apex court and said that the concerned had failed to reach a consensus. On August 6, the Supreme Court began a day-to-day hearing of the case and concluded the hearing on September 16.