Lakhimpur Kheri Case: Supreme Court Allows Accused, One Family Member Of Each Victim/Complainant To Attend Trial Proceedings

With a view to ensure that trial in the Lakhimpur Kheri case goes on smoothly, the Supreme Court of India has allowed the accused and one family member of each victim along with their lawyers to attend the court proceedings. "To ensure that trial proceedings can run smoothly and no impediment is caused by anyone, it is directed that the accused persons and one family member of each victim/complainant shall be permitted to attend the Court proceedings along with their respective counsels in both the First Information Reports", a Bench of Justices Surya Kant and JK Maheshwari said, in its February 13 order.After granting interim bail to accused Ashish Mishra for a period of eight weeks on January 25, the Court had called for a report from the trial court regarding the progress of the case.On February 13, after going through two letters sent by First Additional District and Sessions Judge, Lakhimpur Khiri, U.P, the Bench also extended its appreciation to the Presiding Officer for taking prompt action to ensure that the summoned witnesses remain present in Court. "Letters dated 01022023 and 07022023 sent by First Additional District and Sessions Judge, Lakhimpur Khiri, U.P. have been perused. We appreciate that the learned Presiding Officer has taken prompt and necessary action to ensure that the summoned witnesses remain present in Court." The crime took place on October 3, when several farmers were holding protests against the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to Lakhimpur Kheri district, and four protesting farmers were killed after they were allegedly mowed down by an SUV which was part of the convoy of Ashish Mishra. The Supreme Court in November 2021 appointed Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, to monitor the investigation in the case and constituted an SIT. This order came from the bench headed by the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, which was hearing a PIL registered on the basis of a letter petition sent by two lawyers seeking an impartial probe. The UP Police arrested Mishra following the critical remarks by the Supreme Court. Case Title: Ashish Mishra vs State of UP | Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 7857/2022 Click Here To Read/Download Order

Lakhimpur Kheri Case: Supreme Court Allows Accused, One Family Member Of Each Victim/Complainant To Attend Trial Proceedings

Rintu Mariam Biju

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