The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea by a Hindu outfit for early hearing of the Ayodhya dispute, saying the matter would come up in January as earlier scheduled. However, it did not specify any date.

“We have already passed the order. The appeals will come up in January,” Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, sitting on a bench with Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, told counsel for the Akhil Bharatiya Hind Mahasabha.

The counsel made the plea during the morning “mentioning time” when advocates orally raise matters of importance for early listing. He, however, did not specify the reason for seeking early hearing.

On October 29, the apex court had indicated that the hearing of the Ayodhya land title dispute might start anytime between January and April.

Several Muslim groups had requested a post-poll hearing, fearing that the Sangh parivar would exploit the judgment whichever way it went.

On the other hand, several BJP leaders, including Union minister Giriraj Kishore, have been harping on Hindu “anger” at the delay.

Justice Gogoi had on October 29 rejected a request from solicitor-general Tushar Mehta, who was representing the Uttar Pradesh government, to list the matter “immediately” after the Diwali vacation, which fell early in November.

“We are listing the matter in January. It will come up in the first week of January — not for hearing but for fixing a date for the hearing. The hearing may be held in January, February, March or April. It will come up before an appropriate bench,” Justice Gogoi had said.