SC seeks details of 1,581 cases against MPs and MLAs, directs Centre to set up special courts

New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Central government 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.

The bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Navin Sinha gave the the government six weeks' time to place before it the scheme for setting up of such fast track courts and the finances involved for its implementation.

The top court also sought the status of the trial in 1,581 cases involving politicians since 2014, and how many fresh cases have been filed against politicians and lawmakers in three years since 2014 as it fixed December 13 as the next date of hearing.

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

It informed the bench that the recommendations of the Election Commission of India and the Law Commission favouring life-time disqualification of politicians convicted in criminal cases was under the active consideration of the government.

The next hearing on the matter will be on December 13 and the court expects a full set of plans for special courts by then from the Centre. 

The apex 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.

Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay has filed a PIL in the matter, while several others have come to the apex court as intervenors.

The apex court had on July 12 pulled up the ECI for not taking a clear stand on a plea seeking barring of convicted politicians for life.