1. The Indian Supreme Court directed that separate trials at Rae Bareli and Lucknow courts be clubbed together and conducted in Lucknow, the capital city of the northern Uttar Pradesh state where the site of dispute is situated. The court also clubbed the trial in the matter pending against both Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and the party’s “karsevaks” or volunteers.
2. The court said that conspiracy charges against top BJP leaders cannot be dropped on the pretext of technical glitches.
3. The bench said it decided to step in to examine restoration of criminal conspiracy charges against leaders as the charge originally appeared in the accusations filed by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in both cases.
4.It said that the trial judge of the Lucknow court “shall not be transferred” until conclusion and delivery of judgement in the case.
5. The court ordered daily hearings to ensure a verdict is delivered within two years. It said no party shall be granted adjournment without the judge being satisfied of the reasons for it.
6.It directed CBI to ensure that prosecution witnesses appear every day to record evidence and the trial court should start the proceedings within four weeks from April 19.
7. The court clarified that there would be no de novo (fresh) trial in the matter. The bench also directed that its order should be followed in letter and spirit and granted liberty to the parties to approach it if its directions were not followed.
