Babri files missing from UP records

As many as 23 files and not just seven as reported,relating to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute,were missing in the Uttar Pradesh Governments records...

As many as 23 files and not just seven as reported,relating to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute,were missing in the Uttar Pradesh Governments records,according to an affidavit submitted by Chief Secretary Atul Gupta to the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday. According to official records,the files were last taken away by an Officer on Special Duty OSD in the state Home Departments Communalism Control Cell way back in the nineties. The official later died in an accident.

The Bench had directed the government to produce seven documents on an application of the Sunni Wakf Board,the main Muslim party to the dispute. The application was moved way back in 2002.

The Bench,consisting of Justices Rafat Alam,Sudhir Agrawal and D V Sharma,asked the government to explain by Friday what action it had taken. When the government failed to produce the documents despite repeated directions,the Court summoned the Chief Secretary.

Gupta submitted an affidavit along with a letter from the Home Secretary informing the Principal Secretary General Administration that 23 files kept at the Communalism Control Cell of the state Home Department were missing. With the letter,dated June 6,the Home Secretary also sent a list of the missing files with their brief description. The letter said,according to official records,the missing files and the register of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute files were taken away by former review officer in the Home Department,Subhash Bhan Sadh,after he was appointed OSD in the Communalism Control Cell. The Chief Secretary informed the Bench that Sadh later died in an accident.

On Tuesday,the state government moved an application requesting the Court to ask the Sunni Wakf Board to furnish information regarding the source they had come to know of the documents.The court has given two days to file objections against the application, said Boards advocate Zafaryab Jilani. Additional Advocate General J N Mathur appeared on behalf of the government.

The litigation dates to December,1949.