NEW DELHI, July 19 - The Supreme Court on Friday asked the special judge conducting trial in the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition case, involving BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi and Uma Bharti, to deliver the verdict within nine months from today.
The top court also extended the tenure of the Special Judge at Lucknow till the completion of the trial and the delivery of verdict in the case.
Besides Advani, Joshi and Uma Bharti, the accused against whom conspiracy charge was invoked in the case by the Supreme Court on April 19, 2017, include former BJP MP Vinay Katiar and Sadhvi Ritambara.
Three other high-profile accused � Giriraj Kishore, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders Ashok Singhal and Vishnu Hari Dalmia � died during trial and the proceedings against them have been abated.
The top court had earlier held that Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh, during whose tenure as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh the disputed structure was razed, is entitled to immunity under the Constitution as long as he remains in the gubernatorial position.
On Friday, a bench of Justices RF Nariman and Surya Kant said the recording of evidence in the politically-sensitive case should be completed within six months. � PTI
