Lakhimpur: UP agrees with SC on SIT probe by ex-judge

New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh  government on Monday  agreed to the Supreme Court  suggestion that a former  judge of its choice may be appointed to supervise the state  SIT’s probe on day-to-day basis into the Lakhimpur Kheri  violence in which eight people including four farmers  were killed on October 3.

The top court, while taking note of  the state’s  consent, red  flagged the  issue of involvement of  mostly lowranking police officers in  the ongoing  SIT probe in  the case and  sought names  of IPS officers, who are  of UP cadre  but not the  native of the  state, for being included  in the investigation team.

The other  concern is  about the task  force (SIT). The police officers of this task force have to  be little higher grade officers  and not from Lakhimpur  area...most of the members  are SI (sub-inspector).

Why don’t you give some  names of some IPS officers.  We mean directly recruited  IPS officers who are in UP  cadre, but do not belong to  the state of Uttar Pradesh.  Give the names by tomorrow evening, said the bench  headed by Chief Justice N V  Ramana.

At the outset, senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing  for the state government,  made a statement to the suggestion made by the bench  earlier saying, I have taken  instructions and your Lordship can make the order on  appointing a former judge  to oversee the  Special Investigation Team  (SIT) probe.

The bench  said it would  need a day  to decide the  name of former  judge and that  he may be a  Supreme Court  or a High Court  judge and take  his consent.

We need one  more day ’ s  time because  we need to talk  to the judge  concerned... We  will list it again  on Wednesday  and find out  the judge who  is willing to take up the job,  the bench said.  While consenting, Salve  said the state has no issues with the apex court  appointing a former judge  of its choice to monitor the  probe, but the point that he  should not be a native of Uttar Pradesh should not bear  in mind as the person concerned is a relevant factor.  -(PTI)