HC orders UP govt to file reply on PIL

The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file a reply by June 7 on a PIL seeking direction for quashing the order issued by the state for withdrawing cases against persons accused in alleged terror activities. The order was passed by the bench of Judges Rajeev Sharma and Mahendra Dayal on the PIL filed by local lawyer Ranjana Agnihotri and five others. The bench directed that the state shall file affidavit of alleged terrorist whose cases were recently withdrawn and whether the consent of the Central Government has been taken or not for the same. The petitioners have sought direction from the court for quashing the order issued by the state for withdrawing cases against persons accused of alleged terror activities and serial blasts after summoning the original order from the opposite parties.