SC issues a slew of directives to speed up MP, MLA cases

NEW DELHI: In a significant verdict aimed at fast-tracking trials in more than 5,000 criminal cases against lawmakers, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed HCs to set up a special bench to monitor cases for their speedy disposal, saying these cases have a “direct bearing on our political democracy”.
Issuing a slew of directions to HCs, district judges and special courts designated to hear matters related to lawmakers, the SC directed that criminal cases against MPs, MLAs and MLCs be given priority and trials not be adjourned in such matters except “for rare and compelling reasons”.
“These cases have a direct bearing on our political democracy. Hence, there is a compelling need to make every effort to ensure that these cases are taken up on priority and decided expeditiously,” said a bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra. “Confidence and trust of the constituency in their political representative, be it an MP or an MLA, is necessary for an interactive, efficient and effective functioning of a parliamentary democracy.”
There are as many as 5,175 cases pending against lawmakers across the country.
“Of these, cases that are pending for more than five years are as many as 2,116, which figure is more than 40% of such pendency. This is a large number,” the CJI said in the judgment.