No hearing could be held on THursday as such since senior advocate KK Venugupal, appearing for Advani, sought permission to rush to another Bench in a part-heard matter
NEW DELHI : The Supreme Court once again on Thursday deferred to April 6 a decision on restoring the criminal conspiracy charges against BJP patriarchs Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi and other accused of their role in the demolition of the 16th century Babri Mosque at Ayodhya town in Uttar Pradesh in 1992.
The Bench of Justices P C Ghose and Rohinton Fali Nariman sought written arguments from them to proceed further on the appeal of the CBI pending since past six years, challenging the Allahabad High Court’s May 2010 ruling that quashed the conspiracy charges against them. It also asked the CBI and the counsel of petitioner late Haji Mahboob Ahmad to file written submissions on the issues to be adjudicated by the Court. The written arguments will felicitate quick decision by the Court as it would save time on lengthy arguments from the two sides.
No hearing could be held as such since senior advocate K K Venugupal, appearing for Advani, sought permission to rush to another Bench in a part-heard matter. The court allowed him to go, but with an order that all parties file written statements.
The case has not progressed since after March 31, 2015, when the notices were issued to Advani, Dr. Joshi, Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh, Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti and others. The CBI wants the charge of criminal conspiracy restored against them.
On March 6, SC felt concerned over no finality in the case even after 25 years and indicated that it may club two separate hearings going on in different courts in Raibareli and Lucknow against the different set of people in the demolition case.
