SC raps Gujarat govt over slow trial in rape case against Asaram Bapu

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Gujarat government over the slow pace of trial in the rape case involving self-styled godman Asaram Bapu.

A bench comprising justices N V Ramanna and Amitava Roy asked the state government why the victim has not been examined till now.

It asked the state government to file an affidavit in this regard and posted the matter for further hearing after Diwali.

The apex court had on April 12 asked the trial court in Gujarat to expedite the recording of evidence of prosecution witnesses in a sexual assault case lodged by two Surat-based sisters against the self-styled godman.

The court had asked the Surat trial court to record the testimonies of 46 remaining prosecution witnesses including the alleged rape victims.

Earlier, the top court had refused to grant bail to Asaram on various grounds including his poor health in two separate sexual assault cases lodged in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The apex court, while dismissing his bail plea on January 30, had observed that Asaram had placed a "fictitious document" to persuade the court to grant him bail and had ordered registration of an FIR against those responsible for preparing and filing the alleged fake papers.

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Modi govt to reap political gains from action against Mallya, Subrata Roy

It is perhaps easy to miss the coincidence of two developments taking place in quick succession this week, but their significance in national politics should not be underestimated. Nor should there be any celebrations over an early resolution to the problems that those developments are seeking to address.

On Monday, the Supreme Court ordered the auction of the Aamby Valley property of the Sahara supremo, Subrata Roy, to help recover from him dues that market regulator, the Securities and Exchange  Board of India, estimates to be over Rs 47,000 crore, including interest. Of this amount, the group has so far paid back Rs 11,477 crore.

A day later, the United Kingdom (UK) authorities started extradition proceedings against Vijay Mallya, who allegedly owes over Rs 9,000 crore to banks in India and has been staying away from India for the last 13 months. After the UK Secretary of State certified that extradition proceedings can begin, the London police arrested Mallya and produced him before a local court, which granted him conditional bail.

Purely from an economic governance point of view, these steps mark just the beginning of what would certainly be a long process of recovering dues from Subrata Roy and Vijay Mallya. But that the process has begun augurs well for a country where action against malfeasance is rare and when the process does start, it is excruciatingly slow. And worse, when the process ends after many years, the accused often get away with relative ease.

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Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid issue: Read the entire timeline of the dispute

The Supreme Court's suggestion  for an amicable settlement to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya has yet again rekindled the debate on the subject that has for decades been a religious and political flashpoint.

The Babri mosque dates back nearly 500 years when it was built in Ayodhya by Mir Baqi, a commander of the first Mughal emperor Babur, in 1528. Hence the mosque's name, Babri Masjid.

Here is the timeline to the dispute:

1853: The first recorded incident of violence over the holy site takes place during the reign of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Awadh. Nirmohis, a Hindu sect, claim that a Hindu temple had been destroyed during Babur's times to build the mosque.

1859: The British colonial administration erects a fence at the site to separate the places of worship. While the Muslims are allowed to use the inner court, the Hindus are allowed the outer court.

1885: In January 1885, Mahant Raghubir Das files the first case, seeking permission to build a canopy on the Ramchabutra (a raised platform) outside the mosque. The plea is rejected by the Faizabad district court.

1949: Lord Ram's idols appear inside the mosque, allegedly placed by Hindu groups. Both sides file suits; the government declares the area as disputed and locks the gates to the premise.

1950: Gopal Singh Visharad and Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das file suits at the Faizabad court seeking permission to offer prayers to the idols in the janamsthan. While the inner courtyard remains locked, prayers are allowed.

1959: The Nirmohi Akhara files a third suit seeking possession of the site and claiming to be the custodians of the Ram Janmabhoomi.

1961: The Sunni Central Board of Waqf files a case against the placing of idols inside the mosque and claim that the mosque and surrounding land was a graveyard.
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