Last Updated on September 22, 2021 at 3:04 pm
High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh directed the government counsels to sought and inform the court about the details of number of criminal cases pending against Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly and other politicians in J&K and Ladakh.
The said order was passed keeping in view of the directions contained in the order dated 16-9-2020 of the Supreme Court passed in writ petition (Civil) No.699/2016 instructing for monitoring the progress of the trial of cases pending against the sitting/ former MPs or MLAs.
The CJs of HCs, the Supreme Court directed, shall designate a special bench, comprising themselves and their designate in order to monitor the progress of these trials. “The CJs shall send their additional suggestions, if any, for the purpose of expedient disposal of pending criminal cases against the legislators”, the Supreme Court said.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice V C Koul have taken the suo moto cognizance on the directions of Supreme Court and asked the Counsels appearing on behalf of UTs of J&K and Ladakh to give the updated status of all criminal cases which are pending before the court of law against the politicians.
The HCs have been instructed to appoint a Judicial Officer for such cases and the Judicial Officer can be allotted their work depending on the workload, number and nature of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs and such Judicial Officer shall have continuity of tenure for minimum period of two years.
