SC Orders Departmental Action Against Mau SPs Over Delay in Criminal Trial

The Supreme Court has directed the Uttar Pradesh government to initiate departmental proceedings against the Superintendents of Police (SPs) of Mau who served from 2023 till date, taking strong exception to what it termed a “casual approach” towards a criminal trial.

A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahadevan noted that only two of 54 prosecution witnesses had been examined in a case registered in 2017, despite charges being framed against six accused on March 27, 2023.

The case relates to the alleged kidnapping of a 14-year-old boy on September 27, 2017. The boy has not been traced and neither have his remains been found.

“This leaves us in no doubt that the prosecution, which is accountable for producing witnesses, has been absolutely slack in its duty towards the court,” the bench said in its September 21 order.

The court said the investigating agency was primarily responsible for ensuring the production of witnesses and expressed concern that witnesses had not been produced for more than three years.

The bench noted that the incumbent Mau SP had appeared before it pursuant to an earlier order and filed an affidavit dated August 29. Responding to the court’s query, the state said only two witnesses had been examined since charges were framed against all six accused in March 2023.

The Supreme Court said there was not even a “semblance of seriousness” on the part of the prosecution in ensuring that the trial was completed. It directed the state to begin departmental proceedings against the concerned SPs within two weeks.

The court also warned that if the charges issued against the officers were merely “by way of formality”, it could take action against the competent authority responsible for issuing them.

The matter has been posted for November 16, with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary directed to personally affirm an affidavit detailing the action taken.

The apex court was hearing a plea challenging a May 2025 Allahabad High Court order concerning a request to transfer the probe to the CBI or another agency.