The Supreme Court pulled up the Centre for not establishing sufficient number of special CBI courts leading to delay in handling cases of corruption involving high profile politicians and public servants.
The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Centre for not establishing sufficient number of special CBI courts leading to delay in handling cases of corruption involving high profile politicians and public servants.
A Bench of Justice GS Singhvi and Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya said that number of cases handled by CBI is growing every year but the Centre is not providing adequate resources in terms of man power and establishing special courts to deal with them.
"You have not placed adequate resources at its disposal. It(CBI) cannot be blamed," the bench said adding that the "agency won't come out openly to speak because of discipline".
The bench said that there is need to set up at least 210 more special courts to deal with more than then 1,000 cases pending in different part of the country which are being handled by the agency.
It took serious objection that the government has not taken any substantial steps despite letter written in 2007 by the then CJI to the Prime Minister for establishing special courts.
The bench said that prosecuting and investigation wings of the agency must be strengthenED to ensure that cases are heard and disposed of within a year and asked the government to file an affidavit.
Senior Advocate Mukul Gupta, appearing for the Centre, contended that the Prime Minister had also written to all Chief Ministers for setting up special courts but nothing has happened.
The court, however, was not convinced with his arguments saying that it is for the Centre to establish courts as funds are provided by it and took exception that state governments did not act on the PM's letter.
"It is a serious matter that Chief Ministers have not taken seriously the letter written by the Prime Minister. He is the political head of the country. How can he be taken lightly," the bench observed.
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