Last week, The Union law ministry submitted one document about registered cases against politicians in the country. This says that there are 3,186 registered cases and out of these cases 3,045 cases are pending trial across the country. In this list of case, Uttar Pradesh is on top.
The Union law ministry submitted this document after the Supreme Court asked the Centre to present such list and also create special arrangements for speedy trial of all the cases against politicians.
This document submitted by The Union law ministry says, over 1,700 lawmakers in Parliament and state assemblies faced cases of criminal offences between 2014 and 2017. It has the listing of 3,186 registered cases against politicians. The central government has submitted an affidavit after the Supreme Court asked the Centre last November to create special courts for speedy trial of litigation against politicians.
Advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay had filed a PIL for having a ban over convicted politician and stop his/her further participation in elections. When a bench led by Justice Ranjan Gogoi was hearing on this PIL, this directive was given to the central government. Last year, the court asked the government to report about the status of around 1500 cases pending against MLAs and MPs during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
The Union law ministry then collated data from high courts, state governments and both Houses of Parliament. Various offices of legislative assemblies were asked to furnish this status report. This report was having the information given to the ministry by 23 high courts excluding Bombay.
In last November, the court asked again to know about its March 2014 directive. Hence, the Union law ministry submitted this document.  As per this report, Uttar Pradesh had 248 lawmakers facing criminal cases in last 3 years followed by Tamil Nadu at 178, Bihar 144 and West Bengal 139. Nearly 100 MPs and MLAs from states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Telangana are having their names in FIR.
Out of these many cases, only 125 were decided in a year. In pending cases also, Uttar Pradesh is topping this list. There are 539 cases in pending trial status against lawmakers. On second number, Kerala has 373 such pending cases.
The Union law ministry has also shared that funds have been disbursed to 11 states to build the special courts for these pending cases against lawmakers. However, eight states and UTs have not gone for special courts. The Union law ministry further shared that they have issued strict instructions to arrange fast-track procedure for such cases against MPs and MLAs.