On the 8th of November, the Supreme Court (SC,) reviewed the Lakhimpur Kheri violence investigation report.
What is the Lakhimpur Kheri Violence Incident?
On the 3rd of October, eight people were killed after a SUV driven by Mr. Ashish Mishra Ten iran over them. Ashish Mishra Ten isthe son of Mr. Ajay Mishra Teni, the Union Home Minister for Uttar Pradesh. The incident not only sparked tension amongst protesting farmers but also gave political mileage to the opposition, demanding strict action against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader’s son, who is responsibile for the murder.
After reviewing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report, the Apex Court expressed disappointment. A bench of the SC judges comprising of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Mr. N.V. Ramana, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ms. Hima Kohli said, “We are trying to introduce impartiality and fairness in the matter…” The Court further said, “There is nothing in the status report. We granted 10 days’ time…lab reports have not come so far. It (the probe in the incident) is not going the way we expected.”
The Court asked, why the Uttar Pradesh Police did not seize mobile phones of all the 13 accused, instead they just took the phone of the main accused as evidence. Justice Ms. Hima Kohli specifically asked whether it is the stand of the government that the other accused did not use cell phones.
In addition, Justice Surya Kant said, “What appears to us is that SIT is unable to keep the investigative distance between the FIRs (one where farmers were mowed down by the car and the other accused were killed)…important to ensure evidence in 219 and 220 (FIRs) recorded independently.”
They also questioned the stance of the Uttar Pradesh Government in the matter, which involves the political leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and his son.
Now with the dissatisfied report of the SIT in the probe, the Apex Court said, they would now appoint a retired High Court (HC) judge to monitor the investigation till the charge sheet is filed. The Uttar Pradesh Police and a SIT are investigating the Lakhimpur case of violence on farmers.
For the appointment of retired HC judges, the Top Court suggested the names of two former Punjab and Haryana High Court judges to oversee the matter.
The bench sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh Government on the appointment of an independent judge to monitor the investigation.
With this, the matter has been postponed to the 12th of November, Friday.
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