Sneha kalita, 2010 film

New Delhi, Aug 24 The Supreme Court has been informed that a total of 151 cases are pending against sitting and former MPs/MLAs in special CBI courts across the country, and as many as 58 cases are punishable with life imprisonment. However, in nearly one-third of the cases, the trial is moving at snail's pace - charges have not been framed, though offences were committed several years back.Senior advocate Vijay Hansaria, appointed amicus curiae in a 2016 petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking direction to fast-tracking of criminal trials against sitting and former MPs/MLAs, has filed the report in the top court. He has been assisted by advocate Sneha Kalita in the matter.The fourteenth report, in the matter, said: "It may be noted that out of 151 cases pending trial before the Special Courts, CBI, as many as 58 cases are punishable with life imprisonment. In 45 cases, even the charges have not been framed, though the offences alleged to have been committed several years back."The CBI has furnished a status report dated August 19, to the amicus mentioning the details of the cases pending trial before different CBI courts and those under investigation. The CBI cases pending investigation against MPs/MLAs are 37.The oldest pending case is in Patna, where the accused was charge-sheeted on June 12, 2000. The report highlighted inordinate delay in several cases pending trial before CBI courts in different parts of the country.According to the Enforcement Directorate's status report, a total number of 51 Members of Parliament, both sitting and former, are accused in cases arising out of offences under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. However, the report does not show as to how many MPs/MLAs are sitting and/or former legislators.The report suggested that courts before whom the trials are pending may be directed to expedite the trial of all pending cases on day-to-day basis in terms of Section 309 of the CrPC."All the High Courts may be directed to issue administrative instructions to the effect that the concerned courts dealing with cases investigated by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate shall deal with the cases pending before MPs/MLAs on priority basis and other cases shall be dealt only after the trial in these cases are over," said the report.The amicus suggested in case, additional courts are required, the high courts and the appropriate government shall constitute additional special courts.The report further suggested that cases where investigations are pending before the ED and the CBI, a monitoring committee may be constituted comprising of the following: former judge of the top court or the former Chief Justice of a high court, the Director, ED (or his nominee not below the rank of Additional Director), the Director, CBI (or his nominee not below the rank of Additional Director), the Union Home Secretary (or his nominee not below the rank of Joint Secretary), and a judicial officer not below the rank of district judge to be nominated by the top court.Amicus suggested the committee may be constituted within a period of two weeks of the order and it should furnish its status report regarding each particular case in a sealed cover to the top court within two months of its first sitting.On August 10, the top court gave last opportunity to the Centre to submit a detailed status report regarding details of pendency and stage of trial of cases involving sitting and former lawmakers registered with the central agencies, CBI, and others.A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Vineet Saran and Surya Kant had told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta: "We are reading these reports in newspapers. They don't send us anything. We get everything in the evening; we don't know anything".The CJI said in September last year, the court had granted time to Centre to file a detailed status report, then in October, again time was sought, and today, the situation is the same.This does not work, he noted. "What else can we say to express our displeasure, we were told Centre is concerned about pending cases against MPs/MLAs", he had added.Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Home

City

Latest News

Cricket

LT Premium

National

International

Maharashtra

Opinions

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Nagpur

Entertainment

Photos

Business

Technology

Sports

Lifestyle

Social Viral

Lokmat Games

Health

Narendra Modi

Lok Sabha Election 2024

Heatwave In India

Mumbai Water Cut

Maharashtra Lok Sabha Election

IPL 2024

Sneha KalitaFOLLOW

Sneha kalita, Latest News

Politics :51 MPs, 71 MLAs face money laundering cases, SC told

New Delhi, Nov 14 The Supreme Court has been informed that as many as 51 MPs are facing ... ...

Politics :Govts should take HC nod before withdrawing cases against MPs/MLAs: SC

New Delhi, Aug 25 The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that governments should take approval of the respective ... ...

Politics :77 Muzaffarnagar riots cases withdrawn by UP without any reason, SC told

New Delhi, Aug 24 The Supreme Court was informed on Tuesday that the Uttar Pradesh government has withdrawn ... ...

Politics :121 cases pending against MPs/MLAs in CBI courts, 58 punishable with life imprisonment, SC told (Lead, correcting figure of cases)

New Delhi, Aug 24 The Supreme Court has been informed that a total of 121 cases are pending ... ...

Politics :151 CBI cases pending against MPs/MLAs, 58 punishable with life imprisonment, SC told

New Delhi, Aug 24 The Supreme Court has been informed that a total of 151 cases are pending ... ...