No adjournments, no transfer of judges: SC promises airtight Babri trial

Assuring that the guilty would be brought to justice, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered day-to-day hearing in the Babri Masjid demolition case with strict instructions regarding no adjournments on any ground.

The apex court added that the verdict would be delivered within two years from the date of receipt of today's judgement.

Kalyan Singh, being the Governor of Rajasthan, is entitled to immunity under Article 361 of the Constitution as long as he stays in office. However, the Court of Sessions will frame charges and move against him as soon as he ceases to be the Governor.

The Court of Sessions will frame an additional charge under Section 120-B against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders including L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Vinay Katiar, Uma Bharati, Sadhvi Ritambara and Vishnu Hari Dalmia.

The Court of Sessions will frame additional charges under Section 120- B and other provisions of the Penal Code mentioned in the joint chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Champat Rai Bansal, Satish Pradhan, Dharam Das, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Mahamadleshwar Jagdish Muni, Ram Bilas Vadanti, Vaikunth Lal Sharma and Satish Chandra Nagar.

The proceedings in the court of the Special Judicial Magistrate at Raebareli will now stand transferred to the Court of Additional Sessions Judge (Ayodhya matters) at Lucknow.

The Court of Sessions will after transfer of the proceedings from Raebareli to Lucknow and framing of additional charges, within four weeks, take up all the matters on a day-to-day basis from the stage at which the trial proceedings both at Raebareli and at Lucknow are continuing until conclusion of the trial.

There shall be no de novo trial. There shall be no transfer of the judge conducting the trial until the entire trial concludes. The case shall not be adjourned on any ground except when the Sessions Court finds it impossible to carry on the trial for that particular date.

In such an event, on grant of adjournment to the next day or a closely proximate date, reasons for the same shall be recorded in writing.

The CBI shall ensure that on every date fixed for evidence, some prosecution witnesses must remain present so that the matter is not adjourned for want of witnesses.

The Sessions Court will complete the trial and deliver the judgment within a period of two years from the date of receipt of this judgment.

Meanwhile, the Congress Party has demanded Uma Bharti's resignation while reminding Prime Minister Modi to act in accordance with 'his love for transparency and morality in politics'.

Former union minister and Congress leader Kapil Sibal equated the apex court's order with a film titled '20 saal baad'.

"At least after 25 years there is substantial step forward in the cause of justice. This shows that the majesty of the law has been upheld," the senior lawyer told ANI.

"Our Prime Minister is extremely committed to transparency and morality in politics. So, the Prime Minister should do what he has to do as sometimes he forgets morality and transparency on issues like this," demanded Sibal.

Following the verdict of the Supreme Court on Babri Masjid demolition, the (BJP) said it will analyze the decision in details.

"The Supreme Court has given the verdict. The party would study the verdict in detail," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.