On Farmers’ Killing, UP’s Probe Panel Ahead Of Supreme Court Hearing Today

The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday announced that a single-member Commission of Enquiry, headed by retired High Court Judge Awanish Kumar Awasthi will probe Sunday’s violence in Lakhimpur Kheri district that led to the death of eight people, including four farmers.

The announcement came ahead of a crucial hearing by a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice NV Ramana.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Commissions of Enquiry Act, 1952 (Act no. 60 of 1952), the Governor is pleased to appoint Justice High Court, Allahabad (retd) Pradeep Kumar Srivastava as a single-member Commission of enquiry with Headquarters at Lakhimpur Kheri,” the notification dated October 6 said.

“The Commission shall complete the enquiry within a period of two months from the date of the issue of this notification. Any change in its tenure shall be at the behest of the Government,” the order undersigned by Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary Awanish Kumar Awasthi said.

The Supreme Court has decided to take up the case amid a growing outcry over the Uttar Pradesh police’s handling of the investigation, media reports and a letter written to the Chief Justice by two lawyers from the state. The letter had called for a CBI probe under the supervision of the Supreme Court.