SC favours clubbing of Babri Masjid case

Expressing concern over delays in the trial in the Babri Masjid case, the Supreme Court on Monday said the separate trials underway in Lucknow and Rae Bareli must be clubbed together to speed up the judicial process.

A bench of Justice P S Ghosh and R F Nariman has posted the matter for further hearing on March 22.

The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), challenging the May 2010 Allahabad High Court decision.

The High Court had acquitted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti and then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh of the charge of criminal conspiracy in the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

The High Court had said there was no merit in the CBI's revision petition challenging the May 4, 2001, order of the special court, which directed dropping of criminal conspiracy charges against them.