INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - JANUARY 1^st - JANUARY 15^th - 2008

LIBERHAN PANEL GETS YET ANOTHER EXTENSION TILL FEB

The longest-serving judicial panel in the country, the Liberhan Commission, which is probing the circumstances leading to the demolition of Babri structure in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, got yet another extension - its 43rd since it was set up by the P V Narasimha Rao government on December 16, 1992. The Liberhan Commission now has two more months until February 29 to submit its report to the government, home ministry sources said.

The original MHA order constituting the Commission had stipulated a maximum term of three months for the former Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice to submit the report to the government.

However, owing to administrative delays, a court stay as well as alleged non-cooperation by some of the witnesses summoned by it, the Liberhan Commission is yet to conclude its findings regarding the events leading up to the demolition of Babri structure. This is despite the fact that panel concluded recording of evidence in June 2005.

Over the last 15 years, it has taken the commission 325 sittings, examination of more than 100 witnesses and a whopping expenditure of Rs 7.2 crore to go about its job. Among those who have deposed before the one-man commission are former prime minister P V Narasimha Rao, former deputy prime minister and current Leader of the Opposition L K Advani, former ministers Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharati and Congress leader Arjun Singh.

Though Union home minister Shivraj Patil had, just ahead of UP assembly polls, assured Parliament that the Liberhan Commission report unravelling the truth behind Babri demolition would be out soon, the panel is yet to finalise its findings.