New Delhi: The Union Law Ministry has written to the Chief Justices of all high courts, asking them to expedite cases against sitting MLAs and MPs. Home Minister Rajnath Singh, too, is expected to write to chief ministers on the issue.
The government's move is line with a Supreme Court order of March 10 - and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise of clean politics. On March 10, the apex court had said trial in cases against national and state lawmakers must be completed within a year. The Centre was tasked with ensuring that the hearings were fast-tracked.
The move can affect 61 MPs in both houses of the Parliament who face criminal charges. If convicted, they would be evicted as per another Supreme Court order. Law-makers who get a sentence of two years or more in jail must leave office, the court had ruled last year.
The first Parliamentarian hit by this order was RJD chief and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, who received a 5-year jail term in a fodder scam case.
"Apart from the legal requirements, if cases against people's representatives are processed quickly, those innocent can continue working for the people while those found guilty will be disqualified," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told NDTV earlier this week while announcing the government's plan.
The Modi government, which has completed a little over three months in office, hopes that these measures will help it project itself as an administration committed to reforms. But in reality, there is little that New Delhi can do except write to states seeking their cooperation. Policing, law and order and prisons are a State subject - which means that states led by opposition parties may choose to ignore the Centre's request.
The government's move is line with a Supreme Court order of March 10 - and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise of clean politics. On March 10, the apex court had said trial in cases against national and state lawmakers must be completed within a year. The Centre was tasked with ensuring that the hearings were fast-tracked.
The move can affect 61 MPs in both houses of the Parliament who face criminal charges. If convicted, they would be evicted as per another Supreme Court order. Law-makers who get a sentence of two years or more in jail must leave office, the court had ruled last year.
"Apart from the legal requirements, if cases against people's representatives are processed quickly, those innocent can continue working for the people while those found guilty will be disqualified," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told NDTV earlier this week while announcing the government's plan.
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