New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to frame a scheme to set up ‘special courts’ for the speedy trial of cases+ pending against MPs and MLAs. The top court said this after the Centre indicated that it was not averse to creating such courts.
It also asked the government to indicate the amount of funds that can be earmarked for the setting up of the courts. These courts will be created on the lines of fast-track courts for the swift handling of cases against elected representatives.
The Centre, however, refused to take a stand on a proposed life-ban on convicted elected representatives and instead told the court that the issue was “under consideration.” The apex court also asked the government to share with it information on how many of the 1,581 cases involving MPs and MLAs, as per data from 2014, had been disposed of within one year, and how many had ended in conviction and acquittal. It also sought details of the criminal cases lodged against politicians between 2014 and 2017.
The Election Commission (EC) had today told the SC that MPs and MLAs convicted in criminal cases must be banned from contesting elections for life, to curb the “growing criminalisation of politics” in the country. The Commission clarified its stand after the court raised the issue of how the EC could remain silent on such an important issue.