High Court’s permission needed to withdraw cases against people’s representatives: SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court said criminal cases against people’s representatives should not be withdrawn without the permission of the high courts. The court directed to re-examine the cases withdrawn after September 16, 2020 based on the assembly ruckus case.

The court's order came on a plea demanding setting up of fast-track courts to expedite the disposal of criminal cases involving MPs and MLAs. Meantime, court appointed amicus curiae Vijaya Hansaria told the court that the UP government is withdrawing the cases of the accused including MLAs in the Muzaffarnagar riots.

Many such cases are being withdrawn in Gujarat and Karnataka. The bench, headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana, upheld amicus curiae's recommendation that the cases should not be allowed to be withdrawn without the permission of the high court.

The court also directed that the nature of the cases should be scrutinized before granting permission to withdraw cases against MLAs and MPs. The court ruled that the decision should be only taking into account the interest of the public.