The Uttar Pradesh Government on Monday agreed to the Supreme Court suggestion that a former judge of its choice may be appointed to supervise the State SIT's probe on day-to-day basis into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. The apex court said it would need a day to decide the name of former judge and that he may be a Supreme Court or a High Court judge and take his consent. “We need one more day's time because we need to talk to the judge concerned... We will list it again on Wednesday and find out the judge who is willing to take up the job,” said the bench by Chief Justice NV Ramana.
While consenting, UP Government’s lawyer Harish Salve said the state has no issues with the apex court appointing a former judge of its choice to monitor the probe, but the point that he should not be a native of Uttar Pradesh should not bear in mind as the person concerned is a relevant factor.
The top court, while taking note of the state's consent, red flagged the issue of involvement of mostly low-ranking police officers in the ongoing SIT probe in the case and sought names of IPS officers, who are of UP cadre but not the native of the state, for being included in the investigation team.
“The other concern is about the task force (SIT). The police officers of this task force have to be little higher grade officers and not from Lakhimpur area...Most of the members are SI (sub-inspector). Why don't you give some names of some IPS officers. We mean directly recruited IPS officers who are in UP cadre, but do not belong to the state of Uttar Pradesh. Give the names by tomorrow evening,” said the bench.