Retired Judge, Who Gave Babri Case Verdict, Made Deputy Lokayukta In UP

The Lokayukta is from a non-political background and functions as a statutory authority probing cases primarily related to corruption, government mismanagement, or abuse of power by public servants or ministers.

Retired judge Surendra Kumar Yadav, who gave the verdict in the high-profile Babri mosque demolition case last year, took oath as the deputy lokayukta or the up-lokayukta in Uttar Pradesh today. As a judge of special CBI court, Mr Yadav on September 30, 2020 acquitted all the 32 accused, including BJP veterans LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti and Kalyan Singh, in the case of demolition of Babri mosque in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. "Yadav was appointed as third 'up-lokayukta' by the Governor on April 6. On Monday, Yadav was administered oath by Lokayukta Sanjay Mishra in the presence of other senior officers," an official statement said. The anti-corruption watchdog comprises the Lokayukta and three "up-lokayuktas".