SC rebuffs govt on plea to fast track cases against MPs
2 Aug 2014 5:39 AM IST
The Supreme Court’s observation on Friday that it cannot fast-track criminal cases against MPs alone, taking them to be a distinct category from other pending criminal cases, is indicative that differences between the judiciary and executive were still to be ironed out.
The court’s observation came while hearing a petition filed by National Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh who sought the release of Pakistani prisoners who have already completed their sentences but were still languishing in jail. The apex court bench, headed by Chief Justice RM Lodha, said the creation of additional courts coupled with relative judicial infrastructure should be substantial and not just symbolic.
It was not lost on anyone that the chief justice’s remark was in reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direction to the Home and Law ministries to fast-track trial in criminal cases pending against MPs in a bid to reduce criminality in politics.
The SC said there are several categories like women and senior citizens where criminal trial needs to be expedited. The apex court said fast-tracking of a few categories doesn’t help as manpower in trial courts and infrastructure is woefully inadequate. The SC asked the government to come out with a concrete proposal within four weeks, in consultation with states, on how to fast-track the entire criminal justice system and not just by appointing a few special courts for some sensitive cases.
The court’s observation came while hearing a petition filed by National Panthers Party chief Bhim Singh who sought the release of Pakistani prisoners who have already completed their sentences but were still languishing in jail. The apex court bench, headed by Chief Justice RM Lodha, said the creation of additional courts coupled with relative judicial infrastructure should be substantial and not just symbolic.
It was not lost on anyone that the chief justice’s remark was in reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s direction to the Home and Law ministries to fast-track trial in criminal cases pending against MPs in a bid to reduce criminality in politics.
The SC said there are several categories like women and senior citizens where criminal trial needs to be expedited. The apex court said fast-tracking of a few categories doesn’t help as manpower in trial courts and infrastructure is woefully inadequate. The SC asked the government to come out with a concrete proposal within four weeks, in consultation with states, on how to fast-track the entire criminal justice system and not just by appointing a few special courts for some sensitive cases.
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