Gauhati High Court Seeks Status Report On Pending Cases Against MPs/MLAs From Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh

The Gauhati High Court on Wednesday directed the Registrar General of High Court to present a status report with regard to the number of pending cases along with status and stay orders in these cases pertaining to MPs and MLAs in the four states under its jurisdiction namely- Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

The said direction was passed in a suo moto proceeding before the Special Bench of Justice Suman Shyam and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury, in terms of the judgement and order dated November 9, 2023, passed by the Supreme Court in WP(C) 699/2016, laying down certain guidelines for expeditious disposal of cases pending against MPs and MLAs.

“The cases pending against the MPs/MLAs in the 4 (four) States, viz. Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh coming within the jurisdiction of this High Court have been reflected in the table furnished in para 12 of the order dated 09/11/2023. However, we do not find any updated status report on record for passing fresh order(s) by the Monitoring Bench”, the bench noted.

The Court observed that a report from the Registry would be necessary so as to facilitate further order that can be passed in this proceeding.

Therefore, the Court directed the Registrar General to collate relevant informations and present a status report indicating the following:

1. Number of cases along with the present status of the cases pending before the Principal Seat at Guwahati as well as the out-lying Benches of the Gauhati High Court, pertaining to MPs and MLAs.
2. Stay order(s), if any, operating in these matters coming in the way of expeditious trial/disposal of these cases with specific particulars thereof.

The Court further directed that a similar exercise be also carried out with regard to the cases pending before the District Courts as well as in the Court of Special Judges in the abovementioned four States.

“The report, as called for by this Court, be placed on record before the next date of hearing,” the Court said.

The matter is listed again on May 31.

Case Title: Designated Courts for MPs/MLAs v. The State of Assam & Ors.

Case No.: WP(C)(Suo Moto)/3/2020

Click Here To Read/Download Order