New Delhi, Mar. 6 (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday kept its options open on examining the dropping of conspiracy charge against L.K. Advani, M.M. Joshi and Uma Bharti, accused in the 1992 demolition of the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri structure in Ayodhya.

The apex court also came up with the option of ordering a joint trial of cases arising out of the two cases lodged after the disputed structure was demolished.

”There are 13 persons who were discharged only on technical grounds. Today, we are saying why can't we club both the cases and have a joint trial,” a bench of Justices P.C. Ghose and R. F. Nariman said.

”We will not accept the discharge on technical grounds and we will allow supplementary charge sheet,” the bench said.

These observations were made orally during a brief hearing by the bench, which posted the matter for further hearing on March 22.

However, counsel of the accused said different sets of persons were named as accused in the two cases, and clubbing them could result in proceedings having to begin afresh.

Altogether, 13 persons including Advani, Joshi and Bharti were discharged of conspiracy charge in the case, the trial of which is being held at a special court in Rae Bareli.

The second set of case was against unknown 'karsevaks' who were in and around the disputed structure and the trial was being held at a court in Lucknow.

The appeals were filed by one Haji Mahboob Ahmad (since dead) and the Central Bureau of Investigation against dropping of conspiracy charges against BJP leaders Advani, Joshi and 19 others for demolition of the disputed medieval structure on December 6, 1992.

During the hearing, the bench also said that supplementary charge sheet was filed against eight persons but not against the 13 who were discharged.

Besides BJP leaders Advani, Joshi and Bharti, conspiracy charges were dropped against Kalyan Singh (now Governor of Rajasthan), Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore (both have since died).