Lifetime ban on convicted netas: SC to hear PIL next week

One-liner: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would hear next week the PIL seeking lifetime ban on lawmakers convicted in heinous criminal cases.

Slew of directions: A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana has been passing a slew of directions time-to-time on the PIL for ensuring speedy investigation by the CBI and other agencies, said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

Designated courts: Senior advocate Kapil Sibal said that the apex court, in its judgment passed on the PIL filed by Ashwini Upadhyay, had directed that cases against MPs and MLAs be tried by designated magisterial courts.

• But in Uttar Pradesh, it has not been done and hence, the matter (criminal case) goes to the sessions court for trial without committal (of the case by a designated magisterial court), Sibal had argued

Tardy probe: Earlier, the top court had expressed its deep concern over tardy probe and prosecution in CBI cases against the lawmakers and had wanted speedy conclusion of trials, besides setting up of additional special courts by the high courts.

• Taking note of status reports, it had said the high courts shall constitute special CBI Courts wherever they are needed for expeditious disposal of pending trials
• The special courts are needed to be set up in different parts of states where more than 100 cases are pending to ensure easy accessibility to the witnesses and decongestion of existing infrastructure, it had said

Source: PTI