Twitter
Advertisement

Govt to set up 12 special courts to fast-track pending criminal cases against lawmakers

These special courts will decide the pending 1,581 criminal cases against lawmakers and trial will be completed in a year.

Latest News
article-main
Supreme Court of India
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

The Narendra Modi-led government on Tuesday told Supreme Court that it will set up 12 special courts in a year to fast-track the pending criminal cases against MPs and MLAs.

These special courts will decide the pending 1,581 criminal cases against lawmakers and trial will be completed in a year. 

The document, filed through Reeta Vasishta, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Law and Justice, said that as per the scheme, "12 special courts for a period of one year" shall be set up to dispose of cases against politicians.

The government's affidavit said that the figure of 1,581 cases has been obtained from an NGO but the data as to in which courts these cases are pending is not available.

"It is difficult to gather the facts and figures required for the purpose of answering the queries mentioned in the order of the court.
"Since the states in which these cases are pending is available, the ministry has initiated action by seeking to collect the requisite details from the respective state governments," the affidavit said.

The Centre informed the apex court that the special courts will be set up at the an expenditure of Rs 7.8 crore and the financial ministry have already approved the funds.

The Supreme Court had also asked the Centre to set up an elaborative plan for speedy disposal of cases.

In November, the apex court gave the government six weeks time to submit a plan to set up the special courts.

The top court was hearing a petition from Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, a lawyer and a member of the BJP, who urged for a lifetime ban on convicted lawmakers. The present law imposes 6 years ban on politicians involved in criminal cases.

The petition had also sought a direction to the Centre and the EC to fix minimum educational qualification and a maximum age limit for persons contesting polls. 

The Election Commission had supported the lifetime ban and said it is a necessary step to decriminalise politics and politicians. EC also said said they have already made recommendations on this to the Centre.

The political career of RJD chief and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and VK Sasikala who is in jail on corruption charges will be over if the court decides on a life-time ban.

(With inputs from PTI)

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement