The Liberhan Commission, probing the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya, on Thursday granted three weeks to former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh to inspect its records.

Singh's counsel B B Saxena had moved an application stating that they needed four weeks to inspect the voluminous record of the commission before making any statement at length.

The commission said it was granting time because there was no objection from the counsel of other parties.

"... three weeks will be reasonable period to inspect the record subject to his undertaking that he would appear on that date and no further adjournment would be sought," the commission said.

Singh, during whose tenure as chief minister the disputed structure was demolished, was asked to depose as a 'commission's witness' on September 2 and 3.

The commission, on July 28, had summoned Singh, but rejected a plea to seek the presence of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his deputy Lal Kishenchand Advani to inquire into their alleged role in the conspiracy to demolish the structure.

Justice M S Liberhan, chairman of the commission, had said that the former CM was a 'pivotal witness' and it was in the public interest that the truth be unveiled.

In the application, Singh's counsel said the mode of enquiry seemed to be totally against the ex-CM and the then state government.

The counsel said the inspection of records were necessary because as CM Singh had passed several orders in connection with the Ayodhya matter on the files of the UP government.

Press Trust of India