Madras High Court Steps Up Monitoring of Criminal Cases Against MPs and MLAs

On Monday, the Madras High Court instructed the State government to provide comprehensive information about the quantity of unresolved criminal cases against MPs and MLAs in the State. Details about the courts where these cases are currently pending and the phase of proceedings in those courts are also requested.

The Chief Justice Sanjay V. Gangapurwala and Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy of the First Division Bench instructed Advocate General R. Shunmugasundaram to make sure the details were presented in court by January 30. This is to allow the Bench to review them on January 31, 2024.

During a hearing for a suo motu writ petition from 2020, which the court initiated to oversee the advancement of cases against legislators, the directive was given. The bench chose to request specifics, particularly since the Supreme Court had recently emphasized the necessity for this type of monitoring.

The Chief Justice informed the Advocate General that a special Bench has been ordered by the Supreme Court to be established in the High Court. This is to oversee and speed up the proceedings in such cases. After the details have been submitted, the Bench, under his leadership, will start giving instructions to the relevant courts.