The Ayodhya case hearing in the Supreme Court was deferred to January 29 after one of the five judges exited the bench.

Justice UU Lalit, who was part of the five-judge constitution bench, recused himself from hearing after petitioner counsel Rajeev Dhawan red flagged a conflict of interest.

Dhawan told the apex court that Justice Lalit in 1997 appeared for former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh in one of the matters related to the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi dispute.

Singh is currently the Rajasthan Governor.

Along with justice Lalit, the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi-headed bench included justice SA Bobde, justice NV Ramana and justice DY Chandrachud.

Chief Justice Gogoi in his order said that under the Supreme Court rules in exercise of his administrative powers, it was his prerogative to decide the strength of the bench.

The bench was scheduled to hear the pleas challenging the 2010 verdict of the Allahabad High Court.

The 2010 ruling had directed the 2.77 acre plot be divided equally into three parts between Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhada and Sunni Waqf Board.

(With inputs from agencies)

First Published:Jan 10, 2019 11:48 AM IST