Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Supreme Court judge recuses from lawmakers' criminal cases PIL
The Supreme Court is the highest court in India, and it makes very important decisions about the country's laws.
Recently, a judge named Justice Mohana decided to step back from one case.
She stepped back because she had worked on that same case before, as a lawyer.
The case is about politicians, the people who make our laws, who are accused of breaking the law.
There are more than 4,000 such cases waiting to be decided.
Even the chief ministers of 14 states have criminal cases against them.
Judges believe these trials should happen quickly so justice is not delayed.
In the past, the court asked other courts to set up special benches to handle these cases fast.
Now, a new group of judges will hear the case.
Supreme Court Justice V Mohana recused herself from a 2016 PIL seeking speedy disposal of criminal cases against lawmakers.
The recusal came because Justice Mohana had appeared in the case earlier as a lawyer; Chief Justice Surya Kant said the plea will be listed before another bench.
Amicus curiae Vijay Hansaria's report says over 4,000 criminal cases are pending against MPs and MLAs across the country.
The report says chief ministers of 14 out of 28 states have declared criminal cases, including serious ones, with Telangana's Anumula Revanth Reddy facing 89 cases.
In November 2023, the Supreme Court directed high courts to set up special benches to monitor the speedy disposal of criminal cases against lawmakers.
- Who
- Supreme Court of India judges, including Justice V Mohana, Chief Justice Surya Kant, and Justice Joymalya Bagchi; lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay, who filed the PIL; and amicus curiae Vijay Hansaria.
- What
- Justice V Mohana recused herself from hearing a PIL on the speedy disposal of criminal cases against lawmakers, and a fresh bench will now hear the plea.
- When
- The hearing took place on a Tuesday; the exact date is not mentioned in the article.
- Where
- Supreme Court of India.
- Why
- Justice Mohana recused herself because she had appeared in the case earlier as a lawyer, and the PIL seeks to ensure speedy trials in criminal cases pending against lawmakers.
- PIL filed by
- Lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay in 2016
- Pending criminal cases against MPs/MLAs
- Over 4,000
- Lok Sabha members with criminal cases
- 251 out of 543
- Rajya Sabha members with criminal cases
- 75 out of 233
- States whose CMs declared criminal cases
- 14 out of 28
- Telangana CM's declared cases
- 89 (Anumula Revanth Reddy)
- Karnataka CM's declared cases
- 19 (D K Shivakumar)
- November 2023 Supreme Court directive
- High courts to set up special benches to monitor speedy disposal