[Criminal Cases Against MPs/MLAs] Madhya Pradesh High Court Seeks List Of Pending Cases [Read Order]

The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Yadav and Justice Sujoy Paul specifically ordered,

"Give list of all pending criminal cases involving sitting/former legislators (MPs and MLAs) particularly those cases where stay has been granted by the High Court."

Meanwhile, the Court directed, response filed by the respondent-State be placed on record.

The Matter has been listed for further hearing on Friday (06^th November)

It may be noted that in compliance of the order of the Supreme Court dated 16.09.2020 passed in W.P. (Civil) No.600/2016 (Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay & others vs. Union of India & others), the Madhya Pradesh High Court (Jabalpur Bench) has registered a suo motu petition on 21.09.2020 for monitoring the progress of the trials of the pending criminal cases against sitting/former Legislators (MPs & MLAs).

Significantly, the Supreme Court on Wednesday (16^th September) asked the Chief Justices of the High Courts to formulate an action plan to rationalize the disposal of criminal cases pending against legislators.

Notably, with an aim to enable "timely action" in criminal cases pending against sitting and former MPs and MLAs, the High Court of Manipur on Thursday (October 1^st) directed the State Government to create two "exclusive Special Courts" at Imphal at the Sessions and Magisterial levels.

Recently, the Division Bench of the Orissa High Court comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice B. R. Sarangi directed the Advocate General AK Parija to obtain instructions and file details of the criminal cases pending before different the courts of all the districts of Odisha against sitting/former M.Ps and M.L.A.s.

Also, the Karnataka High Court has directed the Registrar General of the Court to register a suo-motu petition, in view of the directions issued by the Supreme Court.