SC to firm up name of former High Court judge to monitor Lakhimpur probe

The Supreme Court on Monday said it will soon name a former High Court judge to monitor the investigation into Lakhimpur Kheri violence, and asked the UP government to upgrade the special investigating team (SIT) probing the mowing down incident involving a BJP convoy allegedly led by Union minister of state for home Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra. Several farmers were killed in this incident on October 3. Some of the accused were killed in the retaliatory violence that followed.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India N V Ramana said it would finalise some names and get back after the UP government agreed to it. Senior advocate Harish Salve said the state government was not averse to it. "The former judge could also be from UP," said Salve who was assisted by Uttar Pradesh additional advocate general Garima Prashad.

The bench will pass orders on this soon.