The Justice System Under Threat: Allahabad High Court Demands Answers After Judge Receives Ominous Warning

It's a chilling thought, isn't it? A judge, tasked with upholding the law, receiving explicit threats against his life and family. This isn't the stuff of fiction; it's a stark reality unfolding within the hallowed halls of the Allahabad High Court, where Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal found himself targeted after making a critical judicial decision.

The High Court, in a move that underscores the gravity of the situation, has now taken the matter directly to the top. They've ordered none other than the Director General of Police (DGP) to personally submit an affidavit, a sworn statement, outlining exactly what steps have been taken to address these alarming threats. The deadline is tight: March 21. And there's more – the court wants to know why a former police superintendent, accused in a murder case dating all the way back to 1988, has been allowed to remain absconding for so long.

The whole unsettling affair began when Justice Deshwal rejected a pre-arrest bail application on February 2nd. The applicant? Laxmi Nivas Mishra, a former SP of Lalitpur, who, it turns out, has been declared absconding by the Supreme Court itself. Just four days after the bail rejection, on February 6th, a chilling registered letter arrived. The message was unmistakable: a direct threat to the judge and his family. Imagine the immediate concern, the disruption to not just his professional life but his personal peace.

Understandably, Justice Deshwal didn't let this slide. He promptly informed the Chief Justice and the registrar general of the High Court, initiating a necessary response. Subsequently, an FIR was registered, citing sections 506 (criminal intimidation) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) of the Indian Penal Code. It's a clear signal that the judiciary views such intimidation as a direct attack on its independence and function.

But the threats aren't the only concern here. The court, during its proceedings, didn't hold back in criticizing the Uttar Pradesh police. They pointed out the "gross negligence" in tracing Mishra, the very man who is supposed to be in custody. You see, the original murder case against Mishra and others was lodged way back in 1988. He eventually secured bail from the Allahabad High Court in 2013, but that relief was short-lived. In 2023, the Supreme Court stepped in, cancelling his bail and ordering his immediate arrest.

Yet, here we are, well into 2024, and Mishra remains at large. The High Court's patience, it seems, has worn thin. They want to know, unequivocally, why a former senior police officer, facing such serious charges and ordered arrested by the highest court, has managed to evade capture. It's a question that raises eyebrows and, frankly, undermines public confidence in the system.

And if that wasn't enough, Mishra's name isn't unfamiliar to controversy. He's reportedly linked to other significant cases, including the infamous fake encounter case of a diamond trader in Kanpur. This adds another layer of complexity and urgency to the need for his apprehension and for answers regarding the threats made to a sitting judge. The integrity of the judicial process, and indeed, the safety of those who uphold it, depends on a swift and decisive response.