Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday apprised the Supreme Court that retired justice BS Chauhan has agreed to become the part of the judicial commission constituted to examine the gangster Vikas Dubey’s encounter probe.
The other two members of the probe commission include former Allahabad high court judge Shashi Kant Aggarwal and UP’s former director general of police (DGP), K L Gupta.
SC bench headed by Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde has approved the committee names and directed the judicial commission to submit the report within two months. The bench has mentioned that the report shall also be submitted with the state government under the Commission of Inquiry Act.
Supreme Court bench on Monday, had directed the UP government to include a retired SC judge and a retired police officer in the judicial commission.
Following the top court’s July 20 directions, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has shared the draft notification with the bench and stated, “The state government has contacted Justice Chauhan and taken his approval. He is willing to devote time despite COVID situation and travel to Kanpur and Allahabad.”
The court has mentioned that the probe will not only include the Vikas Dubey’s encounter alone, but it should also investigate the inaction of authorities in the matter leading to gangster release on bail despite facing 65 FIRs against him.
SC bench further added, “We do not want to tie the hands of the Commission by specifying the terms of reference. It should be kept as wide as possible.”
Centre is going to provide the secretarial assistance and judicial commission proceedings will not affect the accused in the case.
Wanted gangster Vikas Dubey was killed in an encounter when he tried to escape from police custody on July 10, stated the police.
