LUCKNOW, Nov. 13 -- The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has expressed concern over prolonged delays in police probes across Uttar Pradesh, observing that there is "total lethargy and inaction" on the part of investigating officers in completing investigations.

"The problem is not only confined to one district rather it appears to be prevailing throughout the State of U.P. However, this may not be taken as if we have given final opinion with regard to the malady," a division bench of Justice Abdul Moin and Justice Pramod Kumar Srivastava remarked recently while hearing a petition seeking transfer of an investigation in a murder case to an independent agency recently.

It also said complainants are repeatedly approaching courts f...