Daily hearings in the 134-year-old politically-sensitive Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya will come to an end on Wednesday. Today is the 40th day of hearing in the case.

While dismissing an intervention application of the Hindu Maha Sabha in the case, CJI Ranjan Gogoi on Wednesday said, “This matter is going to be over by 5 pm today. Enough is enough”.

On the final day of the hearing, the Chief Justice, who heads the five-judge bench hearing the case, has allocated initial 45 minutes to Hindu parties followed by one hour to Muslim side, and then four slots of 45 minute each to assorted parties involved in the matter.

The court is expected to announce a verdict in the 134-year-old title suit before the Chief Justice leaves office on November 17.

The lawyers for the Hindu and Muslim sides got into a duel on the 39th day of the hearing in the Ayodhya title dispute.

The heated argument initially erupted when former Attorney General and senior advocate K. Parasaran, appearing for Hindu side, was responding to Sunni Waqf Board and other lawsuits seeking claim over the disputed site. Parasaran was interrupted by senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, who represents the Muslim side, after he contended Emperor Babar committed wrong by building a mosque on a site considered sacred by Hindus.

CJI Ranjan Gogoi had on September 18 set a deadline saying that the submissions on the decades-old politically sensitive matter will be completed by October 18.

The five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court headed by CJI Gogoi further had allowed mediation process along with the hearing and said that if an amicable settlement is reached through it, the same can be filed before the apex court.

The daily hearing on the matter commenced on August 6. Fourteen appeals have been filed in the top court against the Allahabad High Court order, which partitioned the 2.77-acre disputed land equally among Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.

The apex court began daily hearings after a court-appointed panel failed to find a solution through mediation.

In a March 8 order, the Supreme Court had referred the case for mediation by a panel headed by former apex court judge FMI Kalifulla for exploring the possibility of an amicable settlement.

With the Supreme Court set to give its verdict soon, the Uttar Pradesh administration has imposed Section 144 in Ayodhya till December 10 in anticipation of simmering tensions.