SC restores trial of Advani, Joshi, Bharti in Babri case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday revived the conspiracy charge in Babri Masjid demolition case against senior BJP leaders L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh, Union Minister Uma Bharti, among others.

Restoring the conspiracy charge, a bench of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman also transferred their trial from Rae Bareli to Lucknow.

Pronouncing the judgment, Justice Nariman said that since Kalyan Singh being the Governor of Rajasthan enjoys constitutional immunity from being prosecuted, the trial court would proceed against him the day he ceases to be the Governor.

The court also said that the trial court in Lucknow would frame additional charges against Advani and others and proceed against them.

The court said that there would be no de-novo trial and the trial court judge would not be transferred till trial was over.

Directing the trial court to complete the trial in two years time, the top court said that it would proceed on day-to-day basis and there would be no adjournments.

The court said that adjournment would take place only if the trial court judge feels that it was impossible to proceed and fix the next date of hearing after recording the reasons for the adjournment.

The apex court verdict was on a CBI plea challenging the Allahabad High Court order quashing the conspiracy charge against Advani and others.

--IANS

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