Lucknow, Sept 30: In a major relief to Union HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, the Allahabad High Court today stayed the framing of charges against him in the Babri Masjid demolition case by the special court at Rae Bareli. Justice Y R Tripathi of the Lucknow bench of the High Court also summoned the records of the special court and posted the matter for further hearing on November 4 next.
The court ordered that till then the proceedings at the special court against Joshi shall remain stayed.

The court passed the order after hearing at length the defence and the CBI counsels. The court asked for the case diary and relevant records pertaining to Joshi.
Defence counsel Mridul Rakesh told reporters outside the court that although the court did not use the word `stay` in its order the fact that it has stayed framing of charges against Joshi meant that proceedings against him shall remain stayed till the final disposal of his revision petition.
On being asked about the status of other six accused, Rakesh said that they could also approach the High Court for similar relief if they so desired.
When asked whether the CBI could also move the High Court and challenge the verdict of the special court at Rae Bareli, Rakesh said the CBI could "try to create obstacles in our Way”.
Mahipal Ahluwalia, another defence counsel for Joshi, BJP leaders Uma Bharti and Vinay Katiyar, said that so far Katiyar and Bharti had not contacted him for moving the High Court.
He, however, indicated that similar petitions by other six accused including Katiyar, Bharti, VHP leaders Ashok Singhal, Giriraj Kishore, Vishnu Hari Dalmiya and Sadhvi Ritambhara were expected in the next couple of days.
The special Rae Bareli court had, while discharging Deputy Prime Minister L.K.Advani, ordered framing of charges against the rest and directed them to appear personally on October 10 next.
Joshi, who had resigned in wake of the trial court`s order, yesterday filed a criminal revision petition challenging the verdict of the special court to seek a stay on its proceedings.
He had also sought the quashing of the trial court order of framing of charges against him. Bureau Report