Lucknow, Sept 29: Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi today filed an appeal in the high court challenging the Rae Bareli court order for framing charges against him in the Ayodhya demolition case and seeking a stay on proceedings, claming that his case was similar to co-accused L K Advani, who has been discharged. The criminal revision petition, filed in the registry of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court by Joshi's lawyers, pleaded for setting aside of the special court's September 19 order and also a stay on further proceedings in the lower court pending a decision on the appeal.
The petition, which is likely to come up for hearing tomorrow, pleaded that the record of the lower court be sent for and examined.
Joshi, who has since resigned, in his petition said the approach of the special court has been far from judicial as it applied Section 32 of Indian Penal Code (illegal omissions) against Joshi, whose case stood completely at par with the co-accused L K Advani, who was discharged in the case.

Bureau Report