Our special correspondent
LUCKNOW: As expected, the apex body of Indian Muslims, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has decided to challenge the verdict of the Allahabad High Court on the Babri Masjid title suit in the Supreme Court.
In a meeting at the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama here the working committee of the board 
unanimously resolved to approach the apex court against the high court verdict. The meeting was presided over by the AIMPLB president, Maulana Rabey Hasni Nadwi.
The working committee authorised the president and general secretary to take a decision on what capacity the AIMPLB would approach the Supreme Court — either as an intervener, or in some other capacity. The UP Sunni Central Waqf Board, has already decided to move the Supreme Court against the September 30 verdict of the Allahabad High Court.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, the Assistant General Secretary and the Board’s spokesman, Abdur Rahim Quraishi informed that it was the unanimous view of the working committee that the verdict should be challenged in the apex court. Quraishi said the verdict of the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court was discussed in the meeting and the meeting felt that the judgement suffers from a number of infirmities. The verdict was earlier discussed at the legal cell of the board in new Delhi last week.
The resolution adopted at the meeting said “the executive committee of the AIMPLB considers it to be the right and obligation of the Indian Muslims to challenge the judgement in the apex court and remove distortions introduced by the judgement in the basic values of the Constitution and the established norms of jurisprudence”.
The board however has kept its door open for meaningful negotiations on the issue if it comes from other parties. Quraishi said no concrete proposal for talks had so far emerged and discussions can only be held on a specific proposal. “Presently there is no such proposal from the Law Board’s side,” he clarified. If there is a proposal from the ‘other side’ it would be examined in the light of the Constitution, principles of the Shariat and the dignity of the Muslims”
On the oldest surviving litigant, Mohammed Hashim Ansari’s efforts towards finding an amicable settlement to the Ayodhya dispute Quereshi said: “Mr. Ansari’s efforts were in his individual capacity and it is nothing to do with Board”.
The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court had earlier on September 30 ruled by majority that the disputed land in Ayodhya be divided into three parts.
The High Court bench decided to divide the disputed 2.7 acres of land into three parts, with each of the three parties to the suit getting a part of it.
The ownership of the disputed land has been divided as follows: (1) Ram Lalla, the birthplace of Lord Ram, given to Lord Ram (2) Sita Rasoi and Ram Chabootra to Nirmohi Akhara and (3) The remaining part to be given to the Sunni Waqf Board.