New Delhi: In a bid to meet the March 31 deadline for submission of report, the Liberhan Commission today (Jan 16, 2004) decided that final arguments should be resumed in the Babri Masjid complex demolition issue while keeping open the option open of examining former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh.

The Commission said without prejudice to its stand before the Delhi High Court on summoning and examination of Singh, the counsel for the parties are directed to resume the final arguments and file written submissions to conclude the arguments by February 25, as no adjournment would be given under any circumstances.

"In view of the Government notification extending the term of the Commission only up to March 31, 2004 and the stay order granted by the High Court in the writ petition filed by Kalyan Singh, the Commission is compelled to hear resumed arguments from the stage where they were adjourned on the request of the counsel for the parties other than that of the Central Government..." Justice M S Liberhan, chairman of the Commission said in the order.

"In case Kalyan Singh is examined by the Commission at any stage, the parties would be at liberty to address additional arguments in the light of his testimony or of any other person," the Commission, probing the sequence of events leading to the demolition of disputed structure at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, said.