115 Criminal Cases Pending Against Telangana MPs and MLAs

HYDERABAD: Approximately, 115 criminal cases are pending against MPs and MLAs at various stages, according to data submitted to the Telangana High Court by the Registrar General on Friday, following court orders. To ensure expeditious disposal of the cases, the High Court issued guidelines to the designated court for trial of the cases.

A division bench of Telangana High Court, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Tadakamalla Vinod Kumar, was dealing with a suo motu PIL regarding monitoring of designated courts for cases involving MPs and MLAs to monitor early disposal.

The High Court had registered the suo motu PIL based on the directions of the Supreme Court dated November 9 in  ‘Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay and others v Union of India’  to all High Courts to issue directions to the designated courts for expeditious disposal of criminal cases registered against such elected members in their respective states.

The Chief Justice bench had on November 24 directed the High Court registry to collate the data with regard to pendency of all such criminal cases.

The court also directed that data should be filed in the form of a status report with regard to the category of offences registered against each member. The Registrar General was asked to submit a compliance report on or before the next date of hearing. The case was adjourned to after three months.

Meanwhile, the High Court clubbed the PIL filed by former MP Harirama Jogaiah, who sought speedy disposal of CBI cases pending against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, along with the suo motu PIL.

Status report

The Registrar-general presented data to the Telangana High Court with regard to the status of pending criminal cases against MPs, MLAs and former public representatives.

20 cases before the CBI court for disposal of discharge petitions. The CBI court was directed to dispose them of within two months.

46 cases at issuance of summons stage. The High Court directed the police to serve the summons within two weeks.

10 cases stayed by Telangana High Court. The bench directs itself to pass appropriate orders.

11 cases pending despite receipt of summons. Of these, eight are pending before the metropolitan sessions judge, Hyderabad, two before the principal district session judge, Siddipet and one before the principal district judge, Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district. HC directs the judges to take steps to ensure their appearance in coordination with the police.

15 cases are in the process of trial, of which seven are for examination and two posted for examination, six cases are at trial stage. The concerned special courts were directed to expedite trial.

Five cases are at pre-cognisance stage. HC directs police to take steps and the special courts to number the chargesheet once the objections are complied with.