SC Seeks Swift Action On Allegations Against Lakhimpur Trial Judge
On September 22, the top court had taken note of submissions by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the victims, alleging that the conduct of the presiding officer was objectionable as he had transferred several criminal cases to himself and acquitted the accused.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court to act expeditiously on allegations against the presiding officer in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case that he transferred several cases to himself and acquitted accused persons.
A three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana also asked the Uttar Pradesh government to appoint at the earliest a new public prosecutor to conduct the trial in the case.
On September 22, the top court had taken note of submissions by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the victims, alleging that the conduct of the presiding officer was objectionable as he had transferred several criminal cases to himself and acquitted the accused.
The apex court had asked the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court to look into the matter, take remedial action and furnish a report in a sealed cover.
On Monday, the top court took note of submissions by senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the High Court registry, that an administrative committee had to be constituted to examine the allegations against the judge.
“The Chief Justice of the High Court should take an appropriate action as per para three of our order dated September 22, 2026,” the Supreme Court said.
“The Registrar (Vigilance) of the High Court shall forward a report to this Court in a sealed cover, indicating the action that may be taken by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the High Court,” it said.
Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for accused Ashish Mishra, who had moved the top court for bail, said Bhushan had problems with everyone associated with the case, including the trial judge, the public prosecutor and the accused.
He said the trial judge had examined 86 of more than 130 witnesses in the main case.
The Supreme Court said it was not making any observations on the allegations or the counter-claims and listed the matter for hearing after two weeks.
Earlier, Bhushan had alleged that the presiding officer issued a non-bailable warrant against his client after he failed to appear to depose because of illness.
“The conduct of the presiding officer will shock the conscience of the court. The presiding officer withdrew to himself NDPS, SC/ST cases and granted the accused bail or acquitted them. Under the law, he cannot withdraw to himself,” Bhushan contended.
He further claimed that the public prosecutor had been changed midway and that the new prosecutor had only four months of experience.
On October 3, 2021, eight people, including four farmers, were killed in Tikunia in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district during a protest against Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit to the area.
Four farmers were mowed down by an SUV. A driver and two BJP workers were subsequently allegedly lynched by angry farmers. A journalist also died in the violence.