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Ayodhya: HC orders day-to-day hearing

Lucknow, March 20
Accepting a plea by the Centre, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court today ordered a day-to-day hearing of the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit and said a commission would also record evidence to facilitate a speedy disposal of the case.

The Bench comprising Mr Justice Sudhir Narayan, Mr Justice S.R. Alam and Mr Justice Bhanwar Singh said the recording of the evidence would be done either by it or through a commission.

The Centre had filed a petition on March 6 for a daily hearing when efforts were under way to defuse the situation arising out of the tense build-up to the March 15 religious ceremony at Ayodhya.

The judges, while allowing the proposed commission to record the evidence and the statements of witnesses, have paved the way for a speedy disposal of the case.

In an attempt to avoid delays in the recording of evidence and statements of witnesses, the court, citing a judgement of the Supreme Court, also said it would continue even in case of objections, which could be referred to the judges later.

“Recording of evidence on a day-to-day basis is possible only when it is recorded by the commission on the date when the Bench is not holding the court,” the judges said.

The court, while remaining silent on the maintainability or otherwise of the Centre’s petition, observed that as a receiver of the acquired land, the Centre could give suggestions for a speedy disposal of the matter.

The court also referred to its order on July 12 for recording evidence daily but noted it could not be done for one reason or the other.

The judges, however, did not elaborate upon the number of commissioners to be appointed for the smooth conduct of the day-to-day hearing or the time of their appointment.

At present there are two such commissioners involved in recording the statements of witnesses in the case. PTI, UNI