NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from the Uttar Pradesh's Yogi Adityanath government on a plea alleging that several fake encounters have taken place in the state in recent past, PTI reported.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud issued the notice to the Uttar Pradesh government, in which the state government was asked to file a detailed reply within two weeks.

The petition was filed by the NGO, People's Union for Civil Liberty (PUCL).

A total of 58 people were killed in as many as 500 encounters in Uttar Pradesh in recent years, Lawyer Sanjay Parikh, appearing for PUCL, told the court.

The court, however, did not accept the plea that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) be also made a party in the present proceeding. The NHRC had earlier issued notice to the state government on the issue.

The Uttar Pradesh police have launched an onslaught on dreaded criminals in its bid to curb crime in the state. The opposition SP, BSP and Congress have accused the BJP of misusing the police by conducting "fake encounters".

Former chief minister and SP president Akhilesh Yadav had alleged that the Yogi government was inflicting torture on the people of the state and creating fear among them.