Lucknow, July 08: 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 Government’s 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 Department’s 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 Board’s advocate Zafaryab Jilani. Additional Advocate General J N Mathur appeared on behalf of the government.
The litigation dates to December, 1949.
Lost in transit
* A telegram sent by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister G B Pant on January 15, 1950.
* Documents regarding action taken for the attachment of Babri Masjid in December, 1949.
* A letter by Faizabad Deputy Commissioner K K Nayyar to Chief Secretary Bhagwan Sahai on July 20, 1949.
* A letter written by Bhagwan Sahai to K K Nayyar on September 30, 1949.
* Two letters written by Faizabad Divisional Commissioner to the chief secretary on July 20 and September 3, 1949.
* Two letters written by the deputy commissioner to the chief secretary on December 26 and 27, 1949.
–Agencies