No, Modi govt has not started work on Ram Mandir without a Supreme Court order

On January 29, the Facebook page I Support Modi Ji and BJP shared an article by a website instantfbnews.com which claims that the Modi government has started work on the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya without a Supreme Court order. The article has drawn over 6,000 likes and more than 2,000 shares in less than 24 hours.

According to instantfbnews, “सुप्रीम कोर्ट के निकम्मेपन को देखते हुए पीएम मोदी ने अपनी संवैधानिक ताकत का इस्तमाल किया है और सुप्रीम कोर्ट के फैसले के बिना ही मोदी सरकार ने राम मंदिर निर्माण का काम शुरू कर दिया है. भारत सरकार ने सुप्रीम कोर्ट के रुख को देखते हुए ये फैसला लिया है. (Owing to Supreme Court’s lackadaisical approach, PM Modi has used his constitutional powers and his government has started work on the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya without a Supreme Court order. The Indian government has taken this decision after Supreme Court’s indifference.)

Another Facebook page (and website of the same name) DD Bharti has published an identical report which has drawn over 1,400 shares.

Ironically, if the aforementioned articles are read in their entirety, the later parts state that the BJP has asked the Supreme Court for a no objection certificate (NOC) to start constructing Ram Mandir on “allocated and authorised land”. The websites also hyperlinked BJP MP Subramanian Swamy’s tweet where he clearly writes – “…centre was keen to obtain prior permission to start construction.”

The Centre has gone to SC in a WP to seek release of the non – disputed part of RJB land of 67 acres to start immediate construction. My meeting last evening with HM I had a discussion on my approach. But Centre was keen to obtain prior permission to start construction

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) January 29, 2019

However, the claim that the government has begun the construction of Ram Mandir is viral on social media.

Centre asks SC to return undisputed Ayodhya land to temple trust

The government has not started building Ram Mandir in Ayodhya without a Supreme Court order. It has only sought the apex court’s nod to return the land adjacent to the disputed site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas (temple trust) and other owners.

According to News18, “Seeking to speed up the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya in the face of judicial delays and growing pressure from the RSS, the central government has moved the Supreme Court, saying it is “duty bound” to return to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and other owners the land adjacent to the disputed site in Ayodhya.”

A copy of the centre’s petition has been uploaded by India Today, which clearly states – “It is respectfully submitted that while providing for an appropriate planning map and thereby assuring that the ultimate party/ies succeeding the appeals (pertaining to disputed land) can get “proper access to and enjoyment of rights in the disputed land”, the balance land can always be restored/ reverted/ handed over back to RJB Nyas as well as other owners/occupiers from whom the respective parcels of land were acquired.”

Therefore, the claims circulating on social media that the government has gone against the Supreme Court and started the construction of Ram Mandir are completely false. The centre has, in fact, sought the SC’s approval to disburse the excess land around the disputed site.