New Delhi: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Thursday came down heavily on the adjournment of the Ayodhya title suit matter to January 29 describing it as “too long,” saying its apprehensions that the opposite party would raise frivolous issues to secure an adjournment have come true. In a statement, VHP working President Alok Kumar said, “The hearing in Ram Janmabhoomi appeals has been adjourned, yet again.
Our apprehensions that the opposite party shall raise frivolous issues to secure an adjournment have come true. “The objection that a judicial order should have been passed for the constitution of a five-judge bench is apparently frivolous. For it is settled that the Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi is the master of roster. He alone decides the strength of a bench and the judges to sit in it,” he said, reports IANS. The VHP leader’s remarks came after the Supreme Court deferred the Ayodhya title suit matter to January 29, saying the five-judge bench to hear the case will be reconstituted as Justice U.U. Lalit has recused himself.
The apex court took the decision after senior counsel Rajeev Dhawan, appearing for one of the Muslim parties, told the bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi that Justice Lalit in 1997 appeared for former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh in one of the matters related to the Babri Masjid- Ram Janmabhoomi dispute. The VHP leader also said the other objection on Justice Lalit being on the bench is “painful”.
