Lakhimpur Kheri case in Supreme Court adjourned for Monday next week after UP govt seeks time

The hearing in the Lakhimpur Kheri case slated to be held on Friday before the Supreme Court was adjourned for Monday next week after the State of Uttar Pradesh sought time..Senior Counsel Harish Salve, appearing on behalf of State of UP, said that the State may be provided time till Monday, which was allowed by the Bench.During the previous hearing of the case on November 8, the Supreme Court had said that it does not have confidence in the judicial commission constituted by Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to monitor the probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the Lakhimpur Kheri incident in which farmers protesting against Farm Laws in Uttar Pradesh were mowed down by a four wheeler belonging to Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State Ajay Mishra Teni.The UP government had constituted a one man commission of retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava to monitor the investigation.The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli said that the same needs to be done by a retired High Court judge from a different State.The Court had, therefore, suggested the names of Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain or Justice Ranjit Singh both retired judges from Punjab and Haryana High Court.It had, therefore, asked the State to take an appropriate decision in this regard and adjourned the matter for today. When the matter came up for hearing today, Salve said that steps have been taken and sought time."Would your lordship give me time till Monday. We have got something done," he said.The Bench acceded to the request..The Court was hearing a petition registered on the basis of letters seeking registration of an FIR in the matter as well as punishment to the guilty parties involved in the incident.Two lawyers from Uttar Pradesh had written a letter to CJI NV Ramana seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). In their letter, Advocates Shivkumar Tripathi and CS Panda also sought a direction to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure the registration of an FIR in the matter as well as punishment to the guilty parties involved in the incident.Previously, the Court had expressed its displeasure with the manner in which the Uttar Pradesh government and police were handling the probe into the incident.On October 7, the Court sought a status report from the Uttar Pradesh government on the FIR registered and arrests made in connection with the incident.On October 26, the Court had asked the State to ensure protection to witnesses.