Remarks made by the Attorney-General in the Supreme Court on March 6, of looking into “criminal action” against those responsible for making “stolen documents” on the Rafale deal public, have brought the Official Secrets Act into focus. The colonial-era law meant for ensuring secrecy and confidentiality in governance, mostly on national security and espionage issues, has often been cited by authorities for refusing to divulge information. Governments have also faced criticism for misusing the law against journalists and whistleblowers.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday is probably going to look at whether to resuscitate the conspiracy charges against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pioneers LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti some others in Babri Masjid demolition case

Amid the last hearing the apex court said it won't acknowledge the release of Advani and others in the Babri Masjid demolition case just on technical grounds and kept the choice open on resuscitating the conspiracy charge against them.

The apex court will hear the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI's) request against Allahabad High Court's request dropping criminal scheme charges against the BJP pioneers for the situation.

There are two arrangements of cases - one against BJP veteran Advani and other people who were on the dais at Ram Katha Kunj in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992 when the

The other body of evidence was against lakhs of "karsevaks" (volunteers) who were in and around the debated structure.

The apex court while mentioning oral objective facts on release of Advani and other BJP pioneers M Joshi and Uma Bharti additionally thought of the choice of requesting a joint trial of cases emerging out of the two FIRs held up in the wake of the pulverization of the debated Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri structure in Ayodhya in 1992.

"There are 13 people who were released just on technical grounds. Today, we are stating why wouldn't we be able to club both the cases and have a joint trial," a seat including Justices PC Ghose and RF Nariman said.

Out and out, 13 people including Advani, Joshi and Bharti were released of conspiracy charge for the situation, the trial of which is being held at an exceptional court in Raebareli.

Other than BJP pioneers Advani, Joshi and Bharti, trick charges were dropped against Kalyan Singh (presently Governor of Rajasthan), Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and VHP pioneer Acharya Giriraj Kishore (both have since died).

The CBI had chargesheeted Advani and 20 others under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between classes), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 505 (false statements, rumours etc. circulated with the intent to cause mutiny or disturb public peace) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)

It had in this manner conjured charges under segment 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC which was suppressed by the uncommon court whose choice was maintained by the high court.

Will LK Advani, MM Joshi, Uma Bharti face trial in Babri Masjid demolition case? SC to decide today