SC extends trial deadline to Sept 30

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has set a new deadline of September 30 for completing trial and pronouncing the verdict in the criminal case against BJP leaders LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti for the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992.

The apex court had in May asked the special judge, Surendra Kumar Yadav, to complete the trial and deliver its judgment by August 31. A three-judge bench headed by justice Rohinton Nariman extended the deadline by one more month after taking into account a report by Yadav stating that the trial was at its fag end.

This would be the fourth instance of the top court setting a deadline for completion of trial in the case. “We grant one month’s time, i.e., till September 30, 2020, to complete the proceedings,” the bench said.