JUDGMENT

J. S. VERMA, J. for himself and on behalf of M. N. Venkatachaliah, C. J. and G. N. Ray, J. (Majority view) :- "We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another."

- Jonathan Swift

2. Swami Vivekananda said -

"Religion is not in doctrines, in dogmas, nor in intellectual argumentation; it is being and becoming, it is realisation."

This thought comes to mind as we contemplate the roots of this controversy. Genesis of this dispute is traceable to erosion of some fundamental values of the plural commitments of our polity.

3. The constitutional validity of the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, 1993 (No. 33 of 1993) (hereinafter referred to as "Act No. 33 of 1993" or "the Act") and the maintainability of Special Reference No. 1 of 1993 (hereinafter referred to as "the Special Reference") made by the President of India under Art. 143(1) of the Constitution of India are the questions for decision herein. The background in which these questions are to be answered is contained in the facts stated in the White Paper on Ayodhya, February 1993, issued by the Government of India.

4. Certain undisputed facts emerging at the hearing may also have