Ranchi, March 8 (IANS) Chief Minister Shibu Soren Monday failed to turn up in a district court in Jharkhand in a 36-year-old double murder case.

Additional District Judge N.N. Singh deferred the hearing to April 3 and asked Soren to be present in the court. Soren's lawyer said he could not appear in the court as the assembly session is on.

Soren is accused of inciting a mob to kill two men, who were suspected to have stolen two goats, in April 1974.

Soren is one of the 10 accused in the case. Eight people were acquitted in 1983 while one died during the trial.