SC refuses to extend security of former judge who pronounced Babri verdict

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a plea that the trial judge in the Babri Masjid demolition case be granted security. Special CBI judge SK Yadav, who had retired after the verdict, had acquitted all 32 accused, including BJP veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi and former CMs Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharati.

During the trial, Yadav had made repeated pleas for extra security and time. SC allowed an extension in his service to complete the task. He had since made a fresh plea that his security be extended. A bench led by Justice RF Nariman dismissed the plea on Monday. “Having perused the letter dated September 30, 2020, we do not consider it necessary to continue security,” Justice Nariman said.

In a fairly long judgment delivered in Hindi on September 30, 2020, Yadav acquitted all the accused in the case.