Justice – Supreme Court Raises Concern Over Delay in Lakhimpur Trial
Justice – The Supreme Court on Friday voiced serious concern over the slow pace of the trial linked to the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, observing that witness testimonies had not taken place for nearly two months. The matter involves Ashish Mishra, son of former Union minister Ajay Mishra, along with several co-accused facing charges in the case.
The remarks came during a hearing before a Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. The court reviewed a status report submitted by the Uttar Pradesh government but noted that it did not clearly explain why witnesses had failed to appear before the trial court during recent proceedings.
Supreme Court Directs Action on Witness Attendance
Expressing dissatisfaction over the delay, the Bench instructed the presiding judge handling the matter to take all lawful and necessary measures to ensure the presence of witnesses in court. The judges emphasized that criminal trials involving serious allegations should move forward without unnecessary interruptions.
The Supreme Court also directed the trial court to make efforts to complete the proceedings within a fixed timeframe. In addition, the presiding officer has been asked to submit an updated status report regarding the progress of the trial.
The court’s observations indicate growing concern over the prolonged nature of the proceedings in a case that has drawn national attention since the violence took place in Uttar Pradesh nearly five years ago.
Background of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri Violence
The case relates to the violent incident that occurred in Tikunia village of Lakhimpur Kheri district on October 3, 2021. The violence erupted during protests by farmers against the visit of then Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.
According to the prosecution, four farmers were allegedly run over by a sport utility vehicle said to be associated with Ashish Mishra. The incident triggered widespread outrage and led to clashes in the area.
Following the deaths of the farmers, violence intensified, resulting in the killing of a driver and two Bharatiya Janata Party workers, who were allegedly attacked by angry protesters. A local journalist also died during the unrest, taking the total death toll in the incident to eight.
Charges Framed Against Ashish Mishra and Others
The legal proceedings moved ahead in December 2023 when a trial court framed charges against Ashish Mishra and 12 other accused persons. The charges include murder, criminal conspiracy, and other offences under relevant penal laws connected to the deaths of the farmers.
Framing of charges marked the formal beginning of the trial phase, allowing the prosecution to present witnesses and evidence before the court. However, the latest observations from the Supreme Court suggest that progress in recording testimonies has been slower than expected.
The matter continues to remain under close judicial scrutiny due to its political sensitivity and the public attention surrounding the deaths during the farmers’ protest movement.
Legal experts believe the Supreme Court’s latest intervention could accelerate proceedings by ensuring stricter monitoring of witness attendance and trial timelines. The next status report from the trial court is expected to provide greater clarity on how quickly the case may move forward in the coming months.