The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the central government and the UP government on a PIL seeking CBI probe into the killing of journalist Jagendra Singh allegedly at the behest of UP minister Ram Murti Verma.

The apex court vacation bench headed by Justice MY Eqbal issued notice on a PIL after senior counsel EC Agarwala urged the court to direct CBI probe and framing of guidelines for a fair and impartial investigation in such attacks.

The PIL petitioner one DS Jain urged the court to frame guidelines and issue directions that in the case of an unnatural death of a journalist the investigation should be monitered by the district and session judge of the area concerned.

Jagendra Singh was doused with kerosene oil and allegedly set on fire by the UP police. He succumbed to burn injuries on June 8.

Singh had published reports critical of the local government and authorities on Facebook for wider reach and occasionally freelanced for local papers.