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Top Court has clarified that the case concerning violence in Lakhimpur, UP on October 3, 2021 had been mistakenly listed as “suo motu” and that it was to be taken stock of basis letter plea of two advocates, addressed to CJI, seeking his intervention.

Supreme Court today asked the Uttar Pradesh Government to file a status report on the issue of Lakhimpur Violence - the names of those arrested as well as the status of investigations by tomorrow.                        

A bench of CJI NV Ramana, Justice Surya Kant & Hima Kohli also sought a status report on the PILs filed before Allahabad High Court on the violent incidents that ensued on October 3, 2021.

Senior Advocate Garima Prasad & AAG to UP Government informed Court that a Judicial Commission with a Retd. judge as well as an SIT is already in place to look over the issue.
“Nonetheless, a status report will be on record, laying down what stock has been taken on the issue,” said Prasad.

The Top Court also informed the UP government that a message was received by the mother of a person who was killed in the massacre is critically ill. The UP government was directed to take stock of this and provide immediate and adequate medical assistance to her.

It is very unfortunate what happened, said Prasad for the UP Government.

It is unfortunate indeed, 8 people have died, said CJI Ramana

Court also clarified that the Lakhimpur Violence case was mistakenly listed as “Suo Motu” & that it will be heard basis the letter addressed to the CJI.

The recent violent incident(s) happened at Lakhimpur Kheri where 8 people died including four farm law protestors, two BJP workers, a driver, and a local journalist leaving several others injured.

Recently, 2 lawyers had written to the Supreme Court, seeking time-bound CBI probe into the Lakhimpur Kheri incident advocates have also sought directions to the Ministry of Home Affairs to get an FIR register into the case in addition to the punishment for Ministers allegedly involved in the incident that took place on October 3rd 2021.

The letter by Advocates Shiv Kumar Tripathi and C.S. Panda, states that having regard to the seriousness of the killing of the farmers at Lakhimpur-Kheri, it is incumbent upon the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter.

Identifying themselves as liberty-minded public activists concerned with the upholding and protection of the rule of law in the midst of the violence-ravaged State of U.P., the petitioners state that the incident calls for the forthwith judicial interdict direction against the Union government , U.P. government and the concerned bureaucrats so that the cult of violence comes to a grinding halt.

Asking the court to treat their letter as a Public Interest Litigation, the petitioner advocates allege that of late, violence has become the political culture in the country now and the latest development in the State of U.P. is a burning example of the same. Stressing that the human right violation in a democratic country like India coupled with the police excesses at the end of the government of U.P. is the scope, scale and ambit of the present communication, the petitioner couple plead for Apex Court intervention so that the guilty be brought to justice.

The matter was listed as item 1 before court 1 of the Supreme Court. The has now been listed tomorrow, i.e on October 8, 2021. 

Case Title: IN RE VIOLENCE IN LAKHIMPUR KHERI (UP) LEADING TO LOSS OF LIFE