‘Wasn’t Sick’: Dhavan Confirms Jamiat Sacking Him from Babri Case

Dhawan, in a Facebook post, said that he has sent a formal letter accepting the sacking without demur.

Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan.

(Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

Advocate Rajeev Dhavan on Tuesday, 3 December, posted on his Facebook, that he has been sacked from the Babri masjid case by Advocate-on-record Eijaz Maqbool, who is representing the Jamiat.

Dhavan, in the Facebook post, said that he has sent a formal letter accepting the sacking without demur. As Dhavan announced his sacking, reports started doing the rounds about his health being the reason.

In a response to news agency ANI, Dhavan said that all the rumours about his health being the reason are baseless and that he has in fact, been sacked by Jamiat. Further, responding to Jamiat counsel Ejaz Maqbool’s comments about him not being available before Monday, 2 December (deadline to file petition, given by Jamiat), he said that he did not know about the compulsions.

“Now, they are saying that I was sick and unavailable, it is a lie.”

Rajeev Dhavan, Advocate

Earlier, Jamiat counsel Ejaz Maqbool had said that the reason was that the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind wanted the review petition filed on Monday, 2 December.

Maqbool said that since Dhavan was not available to settle the review petition, that was required Monday, 2 December, Dhavan’s name could not be given as a counsel.

“It’s not a big issue and it’s wrong to say that he was sacked due to his health.”

Ejaz Maqbool, Advocate-on-record

(With inputs from ANI)

AIMPLB Keen on Having Dhavan On Board for Review Petition

Meanwhile, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Tuesday was hopeful that senior counsel Rajeev Dhavan will represent it when it files a review petition in the Supreme Court on the Ayodhya verdict.

In a tweet, AIMPLB spokesman Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said, “Rajeev Dhavan has always been a symbol of justice and unity. @AIMPLB_Official will continue its efforts in the Supreme Court under his esteemed leadership.”

In another tweet, Maulana Umrain, an office bearer of the Board said, “We are indebted to the senior advocate Mr Rajeev Dhavan for his sincere, exceptional and incomparable effort in the #babrimasjidcase. We hope that he would represent us again when the review petition is filed.”

The board’s general secretary Md Wali Rahmani issued a statement, saying, “A team of senior advocates and advocates on record is busy in drafting the review petition, which will be then settled by advocate Rajeev Dhavan.”

Rahmani hailed the contribution of Dhavan as extraordinary.

“The way he argued the Babri Masjid/Ram Janmabhoomi title suit in Supreme Court is excellent and praiseworthy. He was abused by a small section of the people and a filthy campaign was carried out in social media but nothing could deter him from arguing the case,” he said.

“The Muslim Personal Board and the community hold him with highest regard. He has put his heart and soul in this case. The community shall always be indebted to him and shall be there to assist him in the cause,” Rahmani's statement said.