New Delhi: Final arguments before the Liberhan commission, probing the demolition of
the disputed structure at Ayodhya, could not take off on April 9 as the Centre
sought more time to file written submissions.
Allowing a request by Centre's counsel Lalaram Gupta that he needed time to study
the "voluminous records" before filing written arguments, the commission adjourned
the matter to April 21 and 22.
Earlier on March 7, the commission had given the last opportunity to the parties –
including the Centre and Uttar Pradesh government – to file their written
submissions and commence the final arguments.
However, none of the parties filed written submissions and some of them, including
the All Indian Muslim Personal Law Board, complained that they were not given all
documents and statements of the witnesses.
The commission had on that date also directed that the parties be supplied with
copies of statements within two weeks and had asked the Centre to initiate the final
arguments.
When contacted, the commission sources said they were in the process of providing
the documents to the parties.
The commission of inquiry has entered a crucial phase with the recording of evidence
having concluded on January 22.
The commission, headed by justice M S Liberhan, was set up by the Centre 10 days
after the "destruction of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid structure" at Ayodhya on
December 6, 1992 and in its decade-long existence and around 315 sittings, it has
recorded statements of 99 witnesses including that of Deputy Prime Minister L K
Advani, former Prime Ministers P V Narasimha Rao and V P Singh.
PTI
