The Jharkhand High Court on Wednesday asked the State Government for a detailed status report regarding pending criminal cases against the Jharkhand legislators.
The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by ‘Jharkhand against Corruption’, led by anti-corruption activist Durga Oraon, seeking speedy disposal of cases pending against the MlAs. According to the PIl, as many as 59 out of 81 legislators of the State are facing criminal charges and 20 of them have serious charges against them.
“A division bench of acting Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice S Chandrashekhar has asked the State Government to file a counter affidavit and provide detailed status report over the criminal charges faced by the legislators in the state,” said petitioner’s advocate Vijay Ranjan Sinha. According to Sinha, the State will also have to give details about whether action has been initiated against any of the legislators or notIJ
The list of the legislators facing serious charges includes MlAs of almost all parties in Jharkhand. ‘Jharkhand against Corruption’ in its PIl has demanded speedy trial in the cases pending against the legislators and dispose the cases against them immediately.
The PIl was filed on July 16 in the backdrop of the Supreme Court ruling on July 10, striking down a provision in the election law that shields members of Parliament and state legislatures from being disqualified on account of conviction.
The Supreme Court had quashed as unconstitutional Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) that protects the membership of an MP or an MlA if he or she files an appeal within three months of conviction. Significantly, the Apex Court has admitted a petition filed by the Centre seeking review of its order on disqualifying convicted MPs and MlAs.