Archive · 6 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Seeks Action Over Allegations Against Lakhimpur Judge
The Supreme Court is looking into complaints about a judge handling the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.
A lawyer for victims said the judge took certain cases for himself and acquitted accused people.
A lawyer representing an accused person disputed the criticism and said the victims’ lawyer had problems with several people involved in the case.
The Supreme Court did not decide whether either side was right.
It asked the Allahabad High Court chief justice to consider the matter and send a confidential report.
It also asked Uttar Pradesh to appoint a new prosecutor for the trial.
The court plans to hear the matter again after two weeks.
The Supreme Court asked the Allahabad High Court chief justice to act on allegations concerning the judge presiding over the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.
The allegations included claims that the judge transferred cases to himself and acquitted accused people; the Supreme Court made no finding on them.
The court directed the High Court’s Registrar (Vigilance) to send a sealed-cover report indicating possible action.
The Uttar Pradesh government was asked to appoint a new public prosecutor as soon as possible to conduct the trial.
The court heard competing submissions about the judge and listed the matter for another hearing after two weeks.
- Who
- The Supreme Court of India, the Allahabad High Court chief justice, the Uttar Pradesh government, and lawyers representing victims, the High Court registry, and an accused person.
- What
- The Supreme Court called for action and a confidential report on allegations about the trial judge, and asked the state to appoint a new public prosecutor.
- When
- Monday; the court listed the matter for hearing after two weeks. The report also refers to an earlier order dated September 22, 2026.
- Where
- The Supreme Court in New Delhi; the case concerns violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- The court was responding to allegations about the judge’s handling of cases and to the need to appoint a new prosecutor for the trial.
Victims' lawyer
Accused person's lawyer
Judge's conduct
Victims' lawyer
Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the victims, alleged that the judge transferred criminal cases to himself and granted bail to or acquitted accused people.
Accused person's lawyer
Siddharth Dave, appearing for Ashish Mishra, said Bhushan had problems with everyone connected to the case, including the trial judge and public prosecutor.
Handling of the case
Victims' lawyer
Bhushan also criticized the judge over a non-bailable warrant issued after his client did not appear to testify because of illness, and said the replacement prosecutor had only four months of experience.
Accused person's lawyer
Dave said the trial judge had examined 86 of more than 130 witnesses in the main case.
- Case
- 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case
- Supreme Court bench
- Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana
- Allegations
- A lawyer for the victims alleged that the presiding officer transferred several cases to himself and acquitted accused persons.
- High Court direction
- The Allahabad High Court chief justice was asked to take appropriate action; the Registrar (Vigilance) was told to submit a sealed-cover report.
- Prosecutor
- Uttar Pradesh was asked to appoint a new public prosecutor at the earliest to conduct the trial.
- Next hearing
- Listed after two weeks.
- Court's position
- The Supreme Court said it was making no observations on the allegations or counter-claims.
