New Delhi, Nov 9: Significantly, the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered all high courts to form a special bench and file a suo motu case in order to keep an eye on any criminal cases that are still outstanding against Members of Parliament and MLAs in order to guarantee their prompt resolution. In response to a PIL filed by Ashwini Upadhyay asking for the early resolution of ongoing criminal charges against politicians, a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud issued a number of directives to high courts and trial courts. The highest court stated that it would be challenging to provide trial courts with consistent rules for the prompt resolution of matters involving legislators. According to the ruling, the high courts will form a special bench to oversee the criminal proceedings of the politicians, which will be chaired by the chief justice or a bench that the chief justice designates. According to the statement, the high courts may request reports on the progress of the trials against the politicians in criminal cases from special lower courts. The statement read, “The trial courts shall not, unless for rare and compelling reasons, adjourn the hearing of the cases against the Members of Parliament, MLAs, and MLCs.”The CJI stated while delivering the ruling that the primary district and sessions judges will make sure that designated special courts trying legislators have access to adequate facilities and technology. The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) brought by lawyer Ashwani Dubey. The PIL sought reliefs such as a speedy trial for accused parliamentarians and the creation of special courts nationwide for this purpose, in addition to a life term ban on politicians upon conviction in criminal cases.
