Lucknow: The Lucknow bench of Allahabad high court has assigned the confidential inquiry into the background and activities of lawyers allegedly involved in the July 21 incident at the Lucknow district court premises to the Intelligence Department of Uttar Pradesh Police.The inquiry will be conducted under the supervision of the director general of police (Intelligence), Uttar Pradesh. The matter has been listed for further hearing on Sept 15.A division bench comprising Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Manjive Shukla passed the order while modifying its earlier direction that had tasked the Intelligence Bureau (IB) with conducting the inquiry into the alleged role of the erring lawyers.During the hearing on Wednesday, additional solicitor general S B Pandey, appearing for the Centre, argued that the functions and mandate of IB were distinct and that the nature of the inquiry sought by the court in its July 28 order did not fall within the agency’s jurisdiction. The bench accepted the submission and redirected the inquiry to UP Police Intelligence Department.The court also directed its office to implead DGP (Intelligence), Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, as a party to the proceedings. Govt counsel Dr V K Singh, present in court, was directed to communicate the order to DGP (Intelligence).The bench noted that affidavits and disclosures earlier sought from lawyers allegedly involved in the incident had not yet been filed. It recorded that the issue would be taken up at the next hearing.The court took on record two counter-affidavits submitted by the police commissioner and the deputy commissioner of police.The proceedings arise from the July 21 incident in which lawyers from Delhi and a local litigant were allegedly seriously manhandled inside the Lucknow district court premises. Allegations of obstruction of judicial proceedings were also raised. Taking a serious view, the high court initiated suo motu proceedings and ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident and the antecedents of the lawyers allegedly involved.
