New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS) The government Tuesday shot down the recommendation of the Liberhan Commission that probed the Babri Masjid demolition to confer statutory powers on the National Integration Council (NIC).

'The National Integration Council is a large organisation consisting of political leaders, representatives from business, media, women's organizations, NGOs,' said the government in its Action Taken Report (ATR) submitted along with the Liberhan Commission report to parliament.

'Conferring statutory powers on the council may not be practical. The council has been set up primarily to act as a body to advise the government and other institutions of civil society.'

In his report, Liberhan has recommended that institutions like the NIC be given legal backing.