HC seeks details of cases pending against sitting, former lawmakers

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 25

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today made clear its intent to fast-lane cases involving sitting and former MPs and legislators of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh by not only seeking details of pending matters, but also issuing directions for their expeditious disposal.

Of Vohra committee & special courts

The suggestion for special courts flows from recommendations of a committee set up in 1993 under the chairmanship of NN Vohra, then Union Home Secretary, to take stock of info on activities of crime syndicates having links with govt functionaries/political personalities. The panel had suggested a ‘nodal cell’ for the purpose.

The Bench of Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice Karamjit Singh made it clear that the information to be furnished would include details of cases pending with the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate and other central agencies. “In spirit of the order passed by the Supreme court titled ‘Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay versus the Union of India and another,’ an officer of the rank of IGP shall be present on the next date of hearing to furnish the requisite information of all cases pending against MPs/MLAs, sitting or erstwhile, in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh,” the Bench said.

The District Judges of the two states and the Union Territory too were directed to furnish details of all such cases. “They shall also send a report regarding the stage of such trials,” the Bench added. As the suo motu case, “In Re: Special Courts for MPs/MLAs”, for monitoring the progress of cases pending against the lawmakers came up for resumed hearing, amicus curiae (friend of the court) Rupinder Khosla, citing the information provided by the Registry, submitted that two matters were pending before a Single Judge. He said information may also be required from the Union of India, the CBI, the ED and other central investigating agencies. This, he added, was necessary as the operative part of the Supreme Court order specifically mentioned monitoring the trial of all criminal cases instituted by the state. The Registry was asked to examine the possibility of listing the matter for physical hearing.