Babri judge Surendra Kumar Yadav appointed Up-Lokayukta of UP

Lucknow, April 12

Retired judge Surendra Kumar Yadav, who gave verdict in the high-profile Babri mosque demolition case last year, took oath as an “Up-Lokayukta” in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

As a judge of a special CBI court, Yadav had, on September 30, 2020, acquitted all 32 accused, including BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti and Kalyan Singh, in the case of demolition of Babri mosque in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992.

“Yadav was appointed as third ‘Up-Lokayukta’ by the Governor on April 6. He was administered oath by Lokayukta Sanjay Mishra on Monday,” an official statement said. The anti-corruption watchdog comprises the Lokayukta and three “Up-Lokayuktas”.

The Lokayukta is from a non-political background and functions as a statutory authority probing cases primarily related to graft, government mismanagement or abuse of power by public servants or ministers. — PTI