The Supreme Court has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to protect witnesses in the Lakhimpur violence case. The court said today that witness statements must be registered with the magistrate as soon as possible. The court expressed its dissatisfaction with the measures taken so far by the state government. He said the government should not give an image such that it is holding back feet.
At the last hearing held on October 8, the court had strongly reprimanded the UP government for failing to arrest the main defendant, Ashish Mishra. Questions were raised today about why the police did not demand more custody of the accused who were captured. Why was he allowed to go to jail in judicial custody after 3 days in police custody?
Chief Justice NV Ramana expressed his displeasure at the late submission of the status report by the UP government. Judge Ramana, who presides over the three-judge tribunal, said he was waiting for this report until late at night. Thus, it is wrong to give a report just before the hearing. Top defender Harish Salve, who is appearing for the UP government, suggested postponing the hearing until Friday. But the judges rejected this. He read and listened to the report.
Judge Suryakant, a member of the court, questioned why the statements of the witnesses have not been registered before the magistrate until now. Harish Salve cited the court closing due to the Dussehra holiday. The judge was not satisfied with this answer. Judge Hima Kohli, the third member of the bank, said: “The government should remove that image that it is taking steps backwards.”
UP government attorney Salve said the court should give him a week. Until then, these deficiencies will be eliminated. On this, the judges spoke about the upcoming hearing on October 26. The court said the safety of witnesses in the case must be guaranteed. During the hearing held today, the state government referred to the arrest of 10 defendants and the identification of 44 witnesses. The court took it on record. The judges asked the UP government to deliver a report before the next hearing.
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