New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh (UP) government Friday told the Supreme Court that it has complied with its direction and extended the tenure of the Special Judge Surendra Kumar Yadav, who is conducting trial in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case involving BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi and Uma Bharti.
A bench of justices RF Nariman and Surya Kant perused the affidavit and office memo placed before it by the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh.
Senior advocate Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, told the bench that they have complied with the top court’s direction and extended the tenure of the special judge till he delivers the judgement in the Ayodhya demolition case. “We are satisfied that the needful has been done,” the bench said while disposing of the matter.
The top court had August 23 asked the UP government to look into the request made by special judge, in his letter to the apex court considering the enormity of the work done by him.
The apex court had July 19 extended the special judge’s tenure till the completion of trial and delivery of verdict in the case. It had said that the extension of the special judge, who is set to retire September 30, will only be for the purpose of concluding the trial and delivering the verdict in the case. Special Judge Surendra Kumar Yadav has been asked to deliver the verdict within nine months.
Besides Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Bharti, the accused against whom conspiracy charge was invoked in the case by the Supreme Court, April 19, 2017, include former BJP MP Vinay Katiar and Sadhvi Ritambara.
Three other high-profile accused Giriraj Kishore, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal and Vishnu Hari Dalmia died during trial and the proceedings against them have been abated.
PTI
