Supreme Court asks judge to deliver Babri verdict in nine months
Live MintThe Supreme Court on Friday directed the special judge hearing the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case, involving Bharatiya Janata Party veterans L.K. In 2017, the Supreme Court had appointed special judge Surendra Kumar Yadav to conduct day-to-day trials in the case and conclude it within two years, after coming down heavily on the Central Bureau of Investigation for dragging the trial for 25 years. However, on 15 July, judge Yadav informed the apex court that he was due to retire on 30 September, and would need another six months to conclude the trial. “The special judge, after two years of virtual day-to-day hearing, is at the fag end of the hearing of the case and requires little more than six months to complete the trial together with the delivery of the judgement,” the apex court observed during a hearing on Monday, adding that the recording of evidence in the case should be completed within six months.