Hawzah News Agency - The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday set a deadline of Oct. 18 for all stakeholders to complete their arguments in a case pertaining to 1992 Babri Mosque demolition.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said that if parties want to amicably resolve the matter through mediation, they can still go ahead with it.

Gogoi remarked the court may extend the hearing by one hour and also sit on Saturdays if required and finish the hearings. However, he made it clear that the proceedings will remain confidential.

The chief justice is set to retire on Nov. 17.

The dispute centers around a site at Ayodhya, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, where the 16th-century Babri Mosque was demolished in 1992 by Hindus, who see it is as the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram.

The demolition lead to riots and the deaths of thousands over the years.