DEADLINE OVER, CBI YET TO DECIDE ON BABRI CASE

NEW DELHI: Although the 90-day deadline for filing an appeal in the Babri Masjid demolition conspiracy case expired about two weeks ago, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is yet to take a call on the matter and is examining if it should approach the concerned high court against the verdict, people familiar with the development said on condition of anonymity.

One of the people, a senior CBI officer, said that “the Special CBI Court judgement (dated September 30 last year) is still being examined , but we are still undecided.” Legally, a final call on whether to go for an appeal rests with the Centre.

“Technically, the deadline for filing an appeal in any judgement is 90 days from the date of receiving the copy of the court’s order, but if the agency has genuine reasons for explaining the delay, the appeal can be filed anytime. In the past too, CBI has challenged court verdicts even after one year or two years,” added the officer cited above.

Further explaining the procedure, this officer said: “Any file related to an appeal is first examined by the investigation team and the legal team of CBI; then by supervisory officers, additional director/special director before it reaches the CBI Director and his legal advisor for their views. If it is decided that CBI should challenge the order, the file is sent to the government for its approval. The DOPT seeks the views of the law ministry, which may or may not seek attorney general’s opinion. Sometimes, all this takes a few weeks and sometimes, several months”.