The Liberhan Commission set up in 1992 to inquire into the December 6 demolition of the Babri Masjid has got another extension to submit its report, this time till March 31. The Union Home Ministry, which announced the extension today, however, indicated this is the last extension and the Commission is expected to submit its report on or before March 31.

The timing is significant as Uttar Pradesh is slated to go to polls in April-May this year and a report by the Commission in the run-up to the Assembly elections will become a hot political issue, particularly with the BJP reiterating its commitment to the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

The previous extension — the Commission was originally to submit its report by March 16 — ended on December 31. An extension was on the cards despite Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil assuring Parliament during the Monsoon Session that the Commission would complete its job by 2006-end.

The Commission headed by Justice (retd) M S Liberhan had finished the deposition of the last witness — the then UP chief minister Kalyan Singh — in June last year. One of the reasons for the delay in finalising the report is said to be the lack of infrastructure, including requisite manpower.

In its sittings over the last 14 years, the Commission has examined over 100 witnesses from the defence, the Centre and the Commission itself. These include — besides then CM Kalyan Singh, former deputy PM L K Advani and the then PM P V Narasimha Rao.

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