The Supreme Court today extended the deadline for completion of trial in the Babri Masjid Demolition case till August 31, by when the judgment in the case must be delivered.
In an order passed by the Supreme Court in July 2019, the Court had set a time frame within which the trial in the Babri Masjid demolition case was to be completed. The Court had said, on July 19 last year, that the judgment in the case ought to be delivered in nine months.
Despite the Court's order, the trial in the case has yet not concluded. The Additional District & Sessions Judge Surendra Kumar Yadav, who is hearing the case, has now written to the Apex Court indicating the same.
In his letter dated May 6, the judge has informed the Court that the trial is at the evidence stage and the same is yet to be concluded.
The Supreme Court has taken this letter on record and keeping the present circumstances in mind, the Bench of Justices Rohinton Nariman and Surya Kant extended the timeframe for completion of trial till August 31.
The Court also said that video conferencing facilities are available and the same must be used by Judge Yadav to ensure that further inordinate delay in the case does not take place.
The Court also mentioned that it is cognizant of the fact that Judge Yadav is taking all efforts to ensure that the trial reached its logical conclusion but must also ensure that proceedings must be completed and judgment in the same must be delivered latest by August 31 this year.
The Special Judge hearing the criminal case against BJP leaders LK Advani, Uma Bharti, and Kalyan Singh was scheduled to superannuate during the pendency of the trial. After informing the Court that substantial progress was made in the trial, the Supreme Court had directed the State of Uttar Pradesh to pass necessary orders in consultation with the High Court to extend his tenure.
In April 2017, the Supreme Court had allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to frame charges against eight BJP leaders including LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti for criminal conspiracy in the Babri Masjid Demolition case. The Court had directed that the trial should conclude within two years, and had also ordered that the judge hearing the case to not be transferred.
Read the Order:
