Supreme Court Directs High Courts to Establish Special Bench for Monitoring Criminal Trials Against Lawmakers

New Delhi, Nov 9: In a significant verdict, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed all high courts to set up a special bench and register a suo motu case to monitor criminal matters pending against MPs and MLAs to ensure their early disposal. Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, heading the bench, issued a slew of directions to high courts and trial courts on a PIL filed by Ashwini Upadhyay seeking early disposal of pending criminal cases against lawmakers. The top court emphasized the establishment of a special bench in high courts, presided over either by the chief justice or a designated bench, to monitor criminal trials against lawmakers. High courts may call upon special lower courts for reports on the status of trials against lawmakers in criminal cases. The judgement stressed that trial courts should not adjourn hearings of cases against Members of Parliament, MLAs, and MLCs except for rare and compelling reasons. Chief Justice Chandrachud also highlighted the need for sufficient infrastructure and technological facilities for designated special courts trying lawmakers, emphasizing the importance of an expeditious trial of accused lawmakers and the establishment of special courts for this purpose across the country. The PIL, filed through lawyer Ashwani Dubey, seeks a life-term ban on politicians upon conviction in criminal cases and additional reliefs for an expeditious trial of accused lawmakers.