5. Evidence from the
revenue records
In the revenue records,
Kot Ram Chandra, the residential headquarters of Sri Ram Chandra has been
shown quite distinct from the city (shahar) of Ayodhya. In
the records, Janmasthan, a large complex serves as a landmark in Kot Ram
Chandra. The first regular settlement Report (1861) as well as the
later records confirm that these records are in continuation with the Summary
Settlement (1858-59) as well as with the earlier records of the Nawabi
period. The revenue records clarify the factual proprietary position
of Janmasthan vs. Babri Masjid, and show how the site has generally
been treated as Janmasthan and nothing else.
In the first settlement
report (1861), the entire complex of Janmasthan shown under abadi (populated)
is covered under khasra No. 163 with 10 plots with superior ownership declared
in the name of Sarkar Bahadur Nazul (government), and the mahants of Janmasthan
along with their names and title to land have been shown with subordinate
proprietary right (malikan-i matahit).
The map of Hadbast of
the village Kot Ram Chandra appended to the Settlement Report (1861) shows
only Janmasthan and the symbol of Mosque is not indicated anywhere on the
plot in question.
This position is maintained
even in the later three Settlements effected during the 19th-20th centuries
(Fasli 1301, 1344 and 1397, corresponding to AD 1893, 1939 and 1989).
In the 1937 settlement and latest Khasra Kistwar map the position is the
same as in 1861 Hadbast map. As per revenue practice, numbers of
the plots, sub-plots in the various categories of the revenue documents
have however undergone change from one settlement to another. In
the 1989-90 Settlement, the erstwhile Janmasthan complex has been shown
under four khasra numbers, viz. 159, 160, 146 and 147 R. Ram Janmabhoomi,
without being mentioned have been shown in two numbers, viz. 159 and 160.
Of these, most of the area has been shown in the ownership of the local
mahant while some portion has been put under Nazul. The new Janmasthan
monument misnomered as Janmasthan to the north of the latter, shown in
khasras Nos. 146 and 147 R is vested in the ownership of the local
mahant.
Eventhough the amended
khasra records of the Nazul Department (1931) under No. 580 put both the
structure of the Babri Masjid and the Chabootra Temple in Waqf possession,
Mahant Raghunath has been declared as subsidiary proprietor of the entire
plot. However, the position taken by the Nazul records (1931) is
not further reflected in any of the regular revenue settlements of 1936-37
and 1989-90.
In the Settlement Reports
since 1861, no plot or sub-plot has been shown as Waqf. Muhammad Asghar
and Mir Rajab Ali who claimed themselves to be khatibs and muazzans
of the Babri Mosque were in fact the zamindars of village Shahanwa,
about 6 miles from Kot Ram Chandra, and held nankar/muafi (maintenance
grant) on account of services rendered by them to the British government.
There is no record of
the Babri Masjid as a Waqf in accordance with the provisions of the U.P.
Muslim Waqfs Act of 1936 or its re-enacted version of 1960.(see Annexures
26, 27, A, B, C, D, E) |