Delhi High Court sets up Special Courts to deal with cases against MPs/ MLAs

The Delhi High Court has passed an administrative order designating special courts to deal with cases against Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies..Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar and Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal, have been designated to handle the said cases. The said courts will be made functional at the Patiala House Courts from March 1..The order reads,.“Hon’ble the Acting Chief Justice and Judges of this Court have further been pleased to order that the cases pending against MPs/ MLAs in different Courts be transferred to the above said two Courts before March 1, 2018 and to put such cases on fast track and endeavour be made to dispose of the same within one year.”.The order was passed in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court given in the civil writ petition titled ‘Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay v. UOI & Anr.’.On November 1, 2017, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre to set up a Central Scheme to set up Fast Track Courts with a view to exclusively dealing with criminal cases pending against legislators. The Court had also directed the Centre to submit the amount of funds required to set up these courts..In response, the Centre in its affidavit had stated that it would set up twelve Special Courts for a period of one year..Subsequently, on December 14, 2017, the Supreme Court had directed State governments and respective High Courts to ensure that twelve special courts, mooted by the Centre to try criminal politicians, are functional from March 1, 2018..Read the order of Delhi High Court below.