Babri Demolition Case : Deliver Judgment In 9 Months; Extend Term Of Trial Judge, Directs SC

The criminal case of conspiracy to demolish Babri Masjid involving BJP veterans L K Advani, M M Joshi, Uma Bharati, Kalyan Singh etc., will see a result within nine months, as the Supreme Court on Friday directed that the trial should be completed in a time bound manner.

The bench of Justices R F Nariman and Surya Kant directed that the recording of the evidence in the case should be completed within six months and judgment should be delivered within nine months from today.

The Court also directed the UP Government to issue administrative orders to extend the tenure of the Special Judge of CBI Court, Lucknow, who is holding the trial, till the delivery of judgment. The judge was otherwise due to retire on September 30.

On Monday, the Court had directed the UP Government to respond to the request of extension made by the Special Judge.

On April 19, 2017, the Supreme Court bench of Justices P C Ghose and R F Nariman had restored the conspiracy charges against Advani, Joshi, Uma Bharati and 13 other BJP leaders by allowing an appeal filed by the CBI against the discharge given by the Allahabad High Court to the accused.

Invoking its extraordinary constitutional powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the bench also transferred the pending separate trial in a Rae Bareilly Magistrate court and clubbed it with criminal proceedings in the Lucknow CBI Court.

The top court further ordered day-to-day trial to be concluded in two years in the case.

The bench said one of the accused Kalyan Singh will obtain constitutional immunity being the Governor of Rajasthan but as soon as he relinquishes office, additional charges shall be filed against him. Singh will demit the office of Governor in September.