Constitute special Courts for expeditious disposal of cases against MP, MLAs: SC tells Govt

NewsBharati    01-Nov-2017
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New Delhi, November 1: Supreme Court on Wednesday asks Centre to constitute special Courts on lines of fast track court for expeditious disposal of cases pending against parliamentarians and MLAs.


The Apex Court also directed the Centre to place before it details regarding 1,581 cases involving MPs and MLAs, as declared by politicians at the time of filing their nominations during the 2014 general elections. 

SC asked the government to appraise it as to how many of these 1,581 cases have been disposed of within one year and how many have ended either in conviction or acquittal of the accused.

During the hearing, the Centre told the bench that decriminalisation of politics has to be done and it was not averse to the setting up of special courts to deal with cases involving politicians and speedy disposal of these matters.

The bench directed the Centre to place before it the scheme for setting up of such special courts and also indicate a number of funds that could be earmarked for the purpose.

Top court asked the government to place these details before it within six weeks and fixed the matter for hearing on December 13.

Notably, Centre has told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it is actively considering Election Commission’s recommendation disqualifying politicians convicted in criminal cases for a life-time.

Also, Election commission supported the plea seeking life ban on politicians convicted in criminal cases and said they have already made recommendations on this to the Centre.

The top court was hearing petitions seeking to declare the provisions of the Representation of People (RP) Act, which bar convicted politician from contesting elections for six years after serving jail term, as ultra vires to the Constitution.

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