Lakhimpur violence: SC appoints retired HC judge to monitor SIT probe
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday appointed retired Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain to supervise the Uttar Pradesh SIT's probe on a day-to-day basis into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which eight people including four farmers were killed on October 3.
A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli also took note of the names of the IPS officers provided by the state government. The apex court also reconstituted the SIT including three IPS officers of UP cadre, who are not natives of the state.
The CJI said that a detailed order will be passed shortly.
The top court said it would hear the case again after the SIT concludes its probe and files the status report and the charge sheet in the case.
Justice Jain who was a former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana in May 1982 and started his legal practice at the district court of Hisar. He was elevated as a judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court on December 5, 2007, and retired on September 30, 2020.
The Uttar Pradesh government on November 15 had agreed to the apex court's suggestion that a former judge of its choice may be appointed to supervise the state SIT's probe. Thirteen people, including Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra, have been arrested so far in connection with the case.