Special courts for hearing corruption cases to be set up

In order to dispose of corruption cases at the earliest, Delhi government, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court, will constitute special courts to hear such cases under the Janlokpal or the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Besides, the Janlokpal will have to present an annual report to the state government on the work done by the office which, thereafter, would be tabled in the Assembly.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday tabled the Delhi Janlokpal Bill in the Assembly with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal terming it the strongest anti-corruption legislation in independent India.

According to the proposed Bill, these special courts will ensure completion of trial in corruption cases within six months from the date of filing of a case.

In case the trial cannot be completed within six months, the special courts will record the reasons for the same and, thereafter, the prosecution should be done in 12 months in the rarest cases.

“To achieve the objective of a speedy trial, the Janlokpal will make an annual assessment of the number of special courts required for this purpose and will then make a recommendation to the government for creating such courts,” the Bill states.

It adds that no court will be entitled to compel the Janlokpal or any public functionary to give evidence relating to secret information or produce the evidence so reported or collected.