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Justice Liberhan Commission: Babri Masjid Demolition Was a Well-Planned Civil Conspiracy

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
03 Aug 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:December 6, 1992June 30, 200917 years48 extensions~100 witnesses
Bodies:Commission of InquiryCBISupreme Court of India
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Justice Liberhan Commission (2009) concluded Babri Masjid demolition was a well-planned conspiracy, not spontaneous.

2.The one-man commission took 17 years (1992-2009), received 48 extensions, and examined ~100 witnesses.

3.Commission alleged involvement of senior RSS and BJP leaders, including LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Uma Bharti, and the then UP government.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

Justice Manmohan Singh Liberhan, head of the one-man Commission of Inquiry into the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition, passed away. His 2009 report concluded the demolition was a meticulously planned civil conspiracy involving RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, BJP, and Shiv Sena — a finding he never retracted despite the 2020 CBI court acquittals.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Demolition DateDecember 6, 1992
Commission AppointedTen days after demolition (Dec 1992)
Report SubmittedJune 30, 2009
Duration of Inquiry17 years (1992-2009)
Number of Extensions48
Witnesses Examined~100
Commission HeadJustice Manmohan Singh Liberhan (Retd. Chief Justice, Madras & Andhra Pradesh HC)
Appointing PMP V Narasimha Rao
Key Accused GroupsRSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal, BJP, Shiv Sena
2020 Court OutcomeSpecial CBI court acquitted all accused

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Demolition Date: December 6, 1992
  • ›Commission Appointed: Ten days after demolition (Dec 1992)
  • ›Target this Data: Babri Masjid demolished on December 6, 1992; Liberhan Commission report submitted on June 30, 2009.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Difference between 'preponderance of probabilities' (commission) and 'beyond reasonable doubt' (criminal court).

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Under which Act was the Justice Liberhan Commission of Inquiry appointed?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements:

1. The Justice Liberhan Commission concluded that the Babri Masjid demolition was a spontaneous and unplanned act.

2. The Commission examined approximately 100 witnesses before submitting its report.

3. The Commission alleged the involvement of RSS and BJP leaders, including LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricEasy

In which year did the Justice Liberhan Commission submit its final report to the Centre?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

Why did the Justice Liberhan Commission's finding of a 'civil conspiracy' remain significant even after the 2020 CBI court acquittals?

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