2 hrs ago
Supreme Court to Urgently List PIL on Lawmakers’ Criminal Cases
The Supreme Court will hear a petition about criminal cases involving elected lawmakers.
The petition asks courts to finish these cases more quickly.
A lawyer helping the Court said urgent instructions are needed.
He said about 40% of lawmakers face criminal cases.
More than 4,000 cases involving MPs and MLAs are pending.
The affidavit also said that chief ministers in 14 states have declared criminal cases.
In 2023, the Supreme Court told high courts to monitor these cases closely.
The Court also said special courts should avoid delays unless there are rare and compelling reasons.
The Supreme Court agreed to urgently list a 2016 PIL seeking speedy trials in criminal cases involving MPs and MLAs.
Amicus curiae Vijay Hansaria said immediate directions were needed because nearly 40% of legislators face criminal cases.
Hansaria’s affidavit identified more than 4,000 criminal cases against lawmakers and cases involving chief ministers in 14 of 28 states.
The affidavit reported criminal cases against 251 of 543 Lok Sabha members and 75 of 233 Rajya Sabha members.
The Court had directed high courts in 2023 to monitor such cases and give them priority, but pendency has remained nearly unchanged since 2018.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, assisted by senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, will consider a PIL concerning MPs, MLAs and other lawmakers.
- What
- The Court agreed to urgently list a 2016 PIL seeking speedy disposal of criminal cases against lawmakers.
- Where
- The matter concerns criminal cases involving lawmakers across India and will be heard by the Supreme Court in New Delhi.
- When
- The decision was announced on Friday; the PIL was filed in 2016, and related monitoring directions were issued on November 9, 2023.
- Why
- The petition seeks faster trials because thousands of criminal cases against lawmakers remain pending, with little change in pendency since 2018.
Key facts
- PIL year
- 2016
- Lok Sabha members with criminal cases
- 251 of 543
- Rajya Sabha members with criminal cases
- 75 of 233
- Criminal cases against MPs and MLAs
- More than 4,000, according to Hansaria’s affidavit
- States with chief ministers declaring criminal cases
- 14 of 28 states
- Earlier Supreme Court directions
- On November 9, 2023, high courts were told to monitor cases and special courts were told to prioritize them
- Reported pendency trend
- The number of pending cases has remained almost unchanged since 2018
Quotes
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant
Chief Justice of India and member of the bench hearing the matter
“This concerns expeditious trial of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs. Almost 40 percent of the legislators are facing criminal cases. It has to be listed urgently and some immediate directions are needed”
deccanchronicle.com
“Yes, it will be listed”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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