Babri Demolition Case: Court Expresses Concerns Over Defence Counsels Not Submitting Arguments

New Delhi, 29 August 2020 [Fik/News Sources]: As the deadline set by the Supreme Court for the conclusion and delivery of judgment in the 1992 Babri mosque demolition case is approaching, a special CBI court on Friday expressed serious concerns over failure of defence counsels to submit their written arguments in the case despite repeated opportunities given to them.

 It granted them the last opportunity to file the written arguments by August 31 and make oral submissions if they wanted to or their chances would be closed.

The CBI has already filed a 400-page written arguments that include former deputy prime minister L K Advani, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh, BJP leaders M M Joshi, Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiar, Sadhvi Rithambara and Sakshi Maharaj, besides Ram Teerth Kshetra Trust secretary Champat Rai.

The defence counsels Central have to rebut the Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arguments by filing their own written arguments.

Special Judge S K Yadav said there are 32 accused in the case.

“The court has to deal with evidence of 351 CBI witnesses and about 600 exhibits, which is bound to take considerable time and as such things cannot be allowed to cause delay at the arguments stage,” the judge said.

The court had earlier granted time to the defence counsels on August 21 and 24. It had fixed for Friday, but again more time was sought by the defence counsels.

The trial is at the verge of conclusion and is at the stage of arguments.

Once the arguments stage is over, the court would deliver its judgment.

The Supreme Court has fixed September-end as the deadline for conclusion and delivery of judgment.

The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished on December 6, 1992, by ‘kar sevaks’ who claimed that an ancient Ram temple stood at the same site.

(With inputs from PTI)