The Supreme Court on Monday said that it would be difficult to direct the trial court which is hearing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case to hold day-to-day proceedings, as it will affect the conduct of other cases pending before the judge. A bench of Justices Suya Kant and J K Maheshwari, which examined the status report submitted by the trial court, said it appears that the trial judge is putting in his best efforts. “It may not be possible. It may affect other cases before the judge,” the bench told advocate Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for the families of the victims and sought day-to-day hearings. Bhushan said his experience is that such cases drag on and in the meanwhile witnesses grow old or turn hostile. He said at least two witnesses should be examined every week. Responding to his apprehension, the court said, “That is why we have kept it pending here, though we usually dispose of such cases.” Directing that interim bail granted to the accused will continue, the bench fixed it for further hearing on July 11. One of the accused in the case is Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra. Four protesters against the now-repealed farm laws were killed when a convoy of vehicles, including one belonging to MoS Ajay Mishra, ran over them on October 3, 2021. Two BJP workers, driver of one of the vehicles and a journalist were also killed in the ensuing violence. On January 25, the apex court granted interim bail to Ashish Mishra and directed that he “shall not stay in Uttar Pradesh or NCT of Delhi during the period of interim bail”. The court also granted interim bail to the four accused farm law protesters in the other FIR pertaining to the death of the BJP workers and the driver. Granting bail, the court said that Mishra should also “disclose the place of residence to the trial court as well as the jurisdictional police station where he would stay during the period of interim bail..” It said the accused should mark his presence in the jurisdictional police station and surrender his passport to the trial court, said the order adding “any attempt by” Mishra, “his family or supporters to influence or threaten the witnesses directly or indirectly shall entail cancellation of interim bail”.
