Tuesday, August 30 2005 14:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Rae Bareilly: The Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid demolition case could not be taken up at the special court in Rae Bareilly today (Aug 30, 2005) owing to a strike by the local Bar association.

Special Judicial Magistrate, V K Singh fixed September30 next for further hearing of the matter after the CBI and defence counsels informed the court that because of a strike they would prefer to stay away from judicial work and sought a fresh date.

Accepting their plea, the court posted the matter for further hearing on September 30.

Later talking to newsmen outside the court, CBI counsel P K Choubey said that the prosecution intends to produce about 80 to 90 witnesses in the case but added that this number could be reduced or increased depending upon the situation.

In all six witnesses had earlier been issued summons by the court to appear before it and furnish oral evidence on behalf of the prosecution.

Two of the six witnesses Qasim and Avdesh Upadhyay were present in the courtroom while others had not reached when the court opened.

Other witnesses to whom the summons were issued to depose in the matter are Hanuman Prasad, head constable at Ramjanambhoomi police station in Ayodhya, Sheikh Jumman, Iqbal and Uttam (all the residents of Ayodhya).

Charges were framed against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President L K Advani, veteran party leaders M M Joshi, Uma Bharti, former UP BJP chief Vinay Katiyar, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Ashok Singhal and three others in the case on July 28.

Earlier, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court had quashed the special Rae Bareli court order discharging Advani in the matter.

The High Court had also dismissed the criminal revisions challenging the order of the lower court for issuance of summon to Joshi and six others for framing of charges.