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The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the special judge conducting a criminal trial against BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti in the Babri Masjid demolition case to complete the proceedings and deliver a sentence before 31 of August.
The higher court also asked Special Judge SK Yadav to use the video conferencing facilities to ensure that the evidence recording is completed and that there is no undue delay in concluding the trial.
“We can indicate that video conferencing facilities are available and should be used by Shri Yadav to complete all the evidence … We extend the period to complete the evidence and pass the judgment until August 31,” said the bank headed by the judge. Rohinton Nariman after the special. The judge wrote to the court on May 6 stating that the evidence record has not yet been completed.
This would be the third time that the court sets a deadline for the completion of the trial in the case of 28 years.
BJP leaders are being tried for the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992 in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. They have been charged with various crimes under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which include promoting enmity between religious groups (section 153A), making statements that affect national integration (section 153B) or that may cause public harm (section 505).
In April 2017, the higher court ordered that the additional criminal conspiracy charges under section 120B of the IPC be framed against the accused BJP leaders.
BJP leader Kalyan Singh, who was the prime minister of Uttar Pradesh when Babri Masjid was demolished and who is one of the defendants in the case, received immunity from the higher court pursuant to article 361 of the Constitution, since he was the governor of Rajasthan. . Article 361 provides protection to the President and Governor from criminal proceedings in office.
The higher court had also ordered the special court to complete the trial within two years.
However, the Supreme Court took up the matter in July 2019 after the special judge requested additional time to complete the trial and render its ruling. The higher court allowed the same and extended the term for an additional 9 months.
The deadline expired April 19, and Special Judge Yadav wrote to the higher court on May 6 seeking a further extension of time.
Then the court listed the case on Friday and decided to extend the deadline one last time.
“We are aware of the fact that Shri Yadav is making every effort to bring the trial to a fair conclusion. However, given the original time frame and the extended time frame, the effort now should be to complete the procedures and issue the ruling by August 31, ”the Supreme Court said.
In its landmark verdict on November 9 last year in the Babri demolition case, the court decided to demand the title in favor of the Hindu parties, while acknowledging that the demolition of the mosque on site was a “calculated act”.
“During the costume quarrel, the entire structure of the mosque was demolished in a calculated act of destroying a place of public worship. Muslims have been mistakenly deprived of a mosque that was built more than 450 years ago, ”the November 9 sentence said.
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