SC Appoints Former Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge to Monitor Inquiry of Lakhimpur Violence
(Judicial Quest News Network)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday,17, November appointed retired Punjab & Haryana High Court Judge Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain to monitor and supervise the investigation of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident “to ensure transparency, fairness and absolute impartiality.
A bench comprising of Chief Justice N.V. RAMANA and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli also took note of the names of the IP officers providedby the State Government, and appointed three officials as part of the state SIT.
Eight, people including four farmers, were killed in violence during farmers’ protest in Lakhimpur Kheri. Thirteen people including Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra, have been arrested so far in connection with the case.
Shri Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, Born on October 01, 1958 in the family of Lawyers at Hisar. His father Sh.Gulab Singh Jain, was the eminent Income Tax Advocate and was a Member of Legislative Assembly from Hlsar in the year 1972 to i977. After obtaining degree in B. Com and LL. B, he was enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana, at Chandigarh in the month of May, 1982 and thereafter, started his legal practice in the District Courts at Hisar. In January, 1983, he shifted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, at Chandigarh, where he practiced for 25 years on Civil, Criminal and Revenue side and remained Member of the Executive of the High Court Bar Association twice, He keeps keen interest in sports and was a College Colour Holder in Cricket. He was elevated as Additional Judge and as Permanent Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh on December 05, 2007 and November 26, 2008 respectively.
IPS Appointments
IPS Officers S.B Shirodkar, Dipender Singh and Padmaja Chauhan have been made part of the SIT.
The Apex Court earlier had expressed displeasure over the composition
Of the investigating team and said most of the officers in the team were of sub-inspector grade from the Lakhimpur Kheri region. While directing the Uttar Pradesh government to circulate the names of IPS officers from the UP cadre who do not hail from the state.
In the recent past while hearing the case the SC had slammed the Uttar Pradesh government, stating that it was dissatisfied with the ongoing investigation.It had said forensic lab reports regarding the video evidence did not come yet and that the mobile phones of all accused had not been seized.
On October 20, the court had rapped the Uttar Pradesh government, saying the Adityanath dispensation was dragging the case.
It said the investigation is not the way we expected. We are here to see that a proper investigation takes place. There is a need to appoint a retired judge to monitor it(investigation)without bias.
The Apex Curt also refused to entreating the suggestion from some Lawyers to order CBI inquiry. The court replied the CBI is not the solution to everything.
