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Liberhan Comm reserves order on summoning of PM
New Delhi, July 21: The Liberhan Commission today reserved its order on summoning Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and recalling Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani as a witness in connection with the inquiry into the demolition of disputed structure in Ayodhya in 1992 after the Centre asserted that the stage for recording of the evidence has been concluded.
New Delhi, July 21: The Liberhan Commission today reserved its order on summoning Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and recalling Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani as a witness in connection with the inquiry into the demolition of disputed structure in Ayodhya in 1992 after the Centre asserted that the stage for recording of the evidence has been concluded.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) R N Trivedi said the stand of the Central Government remains the same as recorded on july 10 that it is not the stage to summon any witness before the commission.
"That in the circumstances, the application for summoning Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Kalyan Singh is not maintainable as the Central Government does not desire to recall any witness or to examine any new witness under Rule 5 (5)(b) of the commission of enquiry (central) rules and the same may be rejected," the ASG told the commission probing the demolition of disputed structure at Ayodhya on Dec 6, 1992.
However, commission counsel Anupam Gupta and All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) contended that the summoning of the then Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh was relevant as it would complete the terms of reference of the commission with regard to his roles during the demolition of the disputed structure.
But Gupta categorically objected to the application seeking to summon the Prime Minister and for recalling Advani to record their evidence in view of the reported statement of Kalyan Singh that they were aware of the conspiracy of demolition.
Bureau Report
"That in the circumstances, the application for summoning Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Kalyan Singh is not maintainable as the Central Government does not desire to recall any witness or to examine any new witness under Rule 5 (5)(b) of the commission of enquiry (central) rules and the same may be rejected," the ASG told the commission probing the demolition of disputed structure at Ayodhya on Dec 6, 1992.
However, commission counsel Anupam Gupta and All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) contended that the summoning of the then Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh was relevant as it would complete the terms of reference of the commission with regard to his roles during the demolition of the disputed structure.
But Gupta categorically objected to the application seeking to summon the Prime Minister and for recalling Advani to record their evidence in view of the reported statement of Kalyan Singh that they were aware of the conspiracy of demolition.
Bureau Report