New Delhi: The Supreme Court has turned down Union minister Ajay Mishra’s plea seeking a directive to shift the Uttar Pradesh government’s appeal, challenging his acquittal in an over two-decade-old murder case, from the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench to the main court. A bench headed by Chief Justice UU Lalit said, “Se do not go into all these issues as in our view, a request to the high court to hear the appeal for disposal on November 10, 2022, the date given by the high court and agreed upon by both the senior counsel would serve the ends of justice. In case the senior counsel is unable to come down to Lucknow, a request allowing the said counsel to make submissions through video conferencing may be considered by the high court.” The other member of the bench is Justice Bela M Trivedi.
In its order, the bench further said, “With these observations, the instant writ petition and the special leave petition are disposed of. Pending interlocutory application (s), if any, stands disposed of.”
The bench had been informed that the transfer of the case was sought on the grounds that the senior lawyer, who would argue the case at Lucknow, was based in Allahabad and, because of his old age, he would not be able to go all the way to Lucknow.
Mishra challenged the administrative order passed by the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court declining to entertain a plea to shift the appeal from Lucknow to Allahabad. The case is related to the murder of a 24-year-old man Prabhat Gupta. It took place in Lakhimpur Kheri in 2000. Although Mishra faced trial, the trial court acquitted him in 2004 for lack of evidence.
