1528
Mir Baqi, a noble under Mughal emperor Babar, builds the mosque. Hindus claim it was built on a temple which is the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. The dispute continues through the British Rule

1949
Idols of Lord Ram appear inside the mosque, allegedly placed by some Hindus. Muslims protest & both parties file civil suits. Hashim Ansari was plaintiff for Muslims & Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das for Hindus. The govt proclaims the premises disputed & locks the gates

1950
Gopal Singh Visharad and Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das file suits in Faizabad, asking for permission to offer prayers to the idols installed at Janmasthan. Inner courtyard gates are locked, but puja is allowed

1959
Nirmohi Akhara and Mahant Raghunath file a case, seeking permission to conduct puja

1961
Sunni Central Board of Waqfs, UP, files a case claiming the mosque and the surrounding land was a graveyard

1984
VHP forms a group to spearhead temple movement. BJP leader LK Advani, takes over leadership of the campaign

Feb 1, 1986
Faizabad district judge orders the gates of disputed shrine to be opened to Hindus for worship. Babri Masjid Action Committee formed shortly thereafter

1989
Then PM Rajiv Gandhi allowed shilanyas, or ground breaking ceremony, at a nearby undisputed site. The hearing of the case is shifted to the high court

Sep 25, 1990
Then BJP president LK Advani launches Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya

Nov 1990
Advani's Rath Yatra is stopped & he's arrested in Samastipur, Bihar. Following this, the VP Singh-led coalition govt, propped by the Left & BJP, falls after the BJP withdraws support

Dec 6, 1992
The disputed structure is demolished & P V Narasimha Rao-led Congress government lets a makeshift temple appear in its place before moving the court for status quo

Mar 5, 2003
The Allahabad High Court orders the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to undertake excavation of the disputed site to ascertain whether a temple existed at the place where the Babri Masjid was constructed

Aug 22, 2003
ASI submits its final report to the Allahabad high court. The 574-page report says that excavations found distinctive features of a 10th century temple beneath the Babri Masjid site

Aug 31, 2003
All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) announces that it will challenge the ASI report on Ayodhya excavations

Jul 26, 2010
The bench reserves its judgment in the 60-year-old case, offers all parties a chance for amicable settlement. But nobody comes forward

Sep 30, 2010
In a judgement running into about 12, 000 pages, HC directs that the disputed site of 2. 77 acres be partitioned equally among three parties: Muslims, Hindus and Nirmohi Akhara. The crucial area under the central dome of the mosque demolished by kar sevaks in 1992 to be allotted to Hindus.