Dragging your feet, can't be unending story: SC to UP on Lakhimpur Kheri violence
Darpan News Desk IANS, 20 Oct, 2021 11:30 AM
New Delhi, Oct 20 (IANS) Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Uttar Pradesh government for delay in recording statements of witnesses before a judicial magistrate in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, where eight persons were killed, and also told the state government to dispel the impression that it is dragging its feet in the matter.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli told the Uttar Pradesh government counsel, "You are dragging your feet. Please dispel that impression".
Senior advocate Harish Salve, representing the Uttar Pradesh government, submitted that a report on the incident has been filed in a sealed cover.
The bench replied, "No, that was not required and we have just received it now...we waited till 1 a.m. last night for any filing. But we received nothing".
Justice Kant added that the court never said anything about the sealed cover. Salve informed the bench that four out of 44 witnesses in the matter have recorded their statements under section 164 (before a judicial magistrate), and 10 accused have been arrested so far.
Salve said there are two crimes: one where the car was driven into farmers and the other one was in connection with the lynching.
The bench shot back at the Uttar Pradesh government counsel, "Why haven't other witnesses recorded their statements?"
Salve replied that it is going on and added that out of the ten accused, four were in police custody.
The bench queried what happened to the other six accused. It added, "You did not seek custody so they were sent to judicial custody. What is the situation in this case?"
Salve submitted that the statements of other witnesses were being recorded, but the courts were shut.
The bench queried further, "Criminal courts closed for Dussehra vacation?"
The chief justice observed, "This should not be an unending story, this is all we want".
Salve sought time in the matter. After hearing arguments, the bench posted the matter for further hearing on October 26.
The top court had registered a petition on the basis of a letter by two lawyers seeking a probe by the CBI in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.
Referring to police action against protesting farmers in Congress-ruled Rajasthan, the BJP leader said, "Congress leaders who are very keen to visit Lakhimpur Kheri have not uttered a single word against police lathicharge on farmers in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan."
Comparisons are on in social media whether this arrest could change the Congress fortunes as after Indira Gandhi's arrest and later in the election in 1980 the Congress returned with a thumping majority.
During the 45-minute long meeting with the Home Minister, Channi also discussed the security situation of the state and demanded that the border must be sealed properly to effectively prevent the smuggling of weapons from Pakistan.
It is the largest agricultural protest to take place in India and others from around the world have also joined in, tens of thousands of farmers have camped for months on major highways to New Delhi to oppose the three laws.
On Thursday night, Shah reached to Nadda's residence and meeting between the two leaders lasted for about an hour. The Shah-Nadda meeting came after a series of events. Earlier, on Wednesday, Amarinder met Shah.
