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SC extends deadline for judgment in Babri demolition

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted time to the special CBI court in Lucknow to complete the trial and deliver its verdict in the Babri Masjid demolition case by September 30.

On May 8, the court had asked the trial court to conclude the trial in the demolition case and pronounce its judgment by August 31. The earlier deadline for delivering the verdict was April.

A three-judge bench of Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman, Navin Sinha and Indira Banerjee said, “Having read the report of Surendra Kumar Yadav, learned Special Judge, and considering that the proceedings are at the fag end, we grant one month’s time, i.e., till September 30, 2020, to complete the proceedings including the delivery of judgment.”

BJP veterans L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharati, and 13 others are facing trial on charges of criminal conspiracy in connection with the demolition of Babri Masjid in December 1992.

In April 2017, the apex court had restored the conspiracy charges against the accused by allowing an appeal by the CBI against the discharge of the accused by the Allahabad High Court.

Babri plaintiff Iqbal Ansari has sought closure of the Babri Masjid demolition case at the earliest.

Ansari told reporters on 31 may 2020 that he does not want any more arguments over the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute.

“Now that the Supreme Court has given its verdict in the dispute and everyone has accepted the same, there is no point in continuing with the demolition case,” he said.

Iqbal Ansari has clearly stated that the special CBI court, overseeing the Babri Masjid demolition case, should also work for the speedy closure.

“Now, there should be no fight over Ram Janambhoomi and Babri Masjid and communalism should not exist in our country. All such disputes should be put to rest and not pursued any further,” he said.

Source: IANS