LUCKNOW, June 7:
In a major setback to the Samajwadi Party Government in Uttar Pradesh, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court today stayed the state government’s move to withdraw cases against terror accused.
The court questioning why the State Government did not sought prior permission from the Central Government before withdrawing cases against the terror accused, has stayed the entire process of the Akhilesh Yadav government for six weeks and referred the case to larger a bench.
A vacation division comprising Justice Rajiv Sharma and Mahendra Dayal gave this order after hearing on a PIL filed by lawyer Ranjana Agnihotri. Earlier on June 5, the court had issued a notice to the State Government seeking all details of the process of withdrawing cases against the terror accused.
The petitioner Ranjana Agnihotri alleged that the State Government was violating the law by proposing to withdraw cases against the terror accused in Civil Courts and Sankatmochan serial blasts in the state.
She said that the State Government was in process to withdraw cases against 35 terrorists and they have not taken permission from the Centre as per the rule.
The court also maintained that the state is required to seek prior permission from the Centre in the cases related to Anti-Terrorist Act and Explosives Act.
However appearing on behalf of the State Government Additional Advocate General Bulbul Gholodiyal said that the Allahabad High Court had rejected a similar PIL earlier at Allahabad hence this PIL should also be rejected.
UP Government had also submitted some details about the process for withdrawal of the case in a sealed envelope in the court before the hearing.(UNI)
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