SC to frame rules for timely prosecution of lawmakers

The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought information on criminal cases involving allegations of heinous crime, corruption and money laundering against sitting and former lawmakers being investigated by the CBI where there is no stay by higher courts, after the Centre told the court that trials of the lawmakers should be time-bound.

“Is there a case where the central agency is not proceeding despite no stay by the higher courts,” asked Justice Surya Kant.

Speaking for himself, Solicitor General Tishar Mehta told a bench comprising Justice N.V. Ramana, Justice Surya

Kant and Justice Hrishikesh Roy said that there should not be a stay on the trial of the lawmakers, including former, even if the High Court is considering a challenge to some aspect of the orders passed by the trial court.

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Mehta suggested that even the High Courts should decide the matter coming before them involving the trial of lawmakers in a time-bound manner, ideally in a month’s time.

Justice Surya Kant sought the details of the status of cases being investigated by the central agencies including CBI where there is no stay. Earlier, the court was told that in the cases involving politicians, there was delay at every stage including the change of public prosecutors and the transfer of judges forcing a de novo trial.

In the course of the hearing of a PIL by BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay seeking setting up of a special court in every district to try lawmakers facing criminal cases, Justice Ramana said they will pass directions to ensure an expeditious trial of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs including former lawmakers.

THE APEX COURT bench said it will ask the Chief Justices of High Courts to give a blueprint of how to address the issue of pending cases against politicians.