A local court in Uttar Pradesh has delivered a significant ruling, rejecting the state government's attempt to withdraw its prosecution in the 2015 lynching case of Mohammad Akhlaq. The decision, made on Tuesday, December 24, 2025, underscores the judiciary's commitment to due process and has been hailed as a crucial step for justice and social healing.
A Shocking Crime and Its Aftermath
The horrific incident dates back to 2015 in Bisada village. Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched by a mob, which allegedly included his neighbours, on the suspicion of killing a calf and storing beef. The tragedy reverberated across the nation, bringing terms like 'cow vigilantism' and 'gau rakshaks' into common and disturbing usage.
In a troubling pattern observed since, victims' families in similar cases have often found themselves under investigation, while many political and social figures associated with the ruling dispensation have been accused of equivocating on or ignoring attacks against minorities. The Akhlaq case became a stark symbol of this inversion of justice.
The Government's U-Turn and Judicial Intervention
Last month, the Uttar Pradesh government filed a plea to withdraw its prosecution in the case, a move widely seen as an admission of failure and an unwillingness to uphold the rule of law. The prosecution cited 'inconsistency in witness statements' as grounds—the same argument used by the defence lawyers to seek bail for the accused back in 2017, a position the government had opposed at that time.
However, the Surajpur court firmly denied this application. In a robust order, it instructed authorities to ensure the protection of evidence and categorised the case as 'most important', mandating daily hearings to expedite the trial. This intervention rescued the fundamental adversarial principle of the justice system, where the prosecution must advocate for the state and community.
A Victory for Due Process and Constitutional Values
The court's ruling is a powerful reaffirmation that the state's responsibility is to investigate and prosecute a murder according to the law, not to defend the crime or its perpetrators. Justice in the Akhlaq case is vital not only for closure for his family but for broader social reconciliation.
By rejecting the withdrawal plea, the judiciary has sent a clear message against impunity and state sanction for vigilante culture. In a constitutional democracy, the rule of law must prevail over mob justice, and this decision marks a critical stand for that principle.
