Superme Court reserves order on plea against BJP leaders in Ayodhya case

The apex court will also decide whether the trial of the VVIP accused can be transferred from a court in Rae Bareli to Lucknow. There were two sets of cases relating the demolition of the disputed structure on December 6, 1992. The first involved unnamed ‘karsevaks’, the trial in which is taking place in a Lucknow court in Lucknow, while the second set of cases relates to the VVIPs in a Rae Bareli court. 

A bench comprising Justices P C Ghose and R F Nariman also indicated that they may order holding of joint trial of the two sets of cases by transferring the trial from Raebareli to a Lucknow court. The bench also said since 25 years have already passed, in the interest of justice it will consider ordering a timebound trial on day-to-day basis, to be completed preferably within two years. Senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for Advani and Joshi, vociferously opposed the proposal for holding joint trial and transferring their case from Rae Bareli to Lucknow. 

The CBI clarified that it was not making any submission on the issue of the trial of the VVIP accused but restricting itself to restoration of the charge of conspiracy against the accused. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for one of the intervenors, supported the proposal for a joint trial, contending the two sets of cases had arisen from one incident which allegedly involved single conspiracy. The apex court also gave opportunity to all the parties to file their written submission by Tuesday. 

The apex court had earlier decided to examine the appeal against dropping of  conspiracy charge against Advani, Joshi, Uma Bharti and 10 others. The clubbing of two FIRs was opposed by the counsel for the accused on the ground that there were different sets of persons named as accused in the two cases, the trial of which were at an advanced stage at two different places. They were of the view that joint trial would lead to the beginning of de novo (afresh) proceedings.