A recent report filed in the Supreme Court has revealed a worrying picture of the criminalisation of politics in the country.
According to data presented in the apex court on Monday, criminal cases have been registered against 251 out of 543 members of the Lok Sabha. Similarly, various criminal cases have also been registered against 75 out of 233 members of the Rajya Sabha.
Senior Advocate Vijay Hansaria, appointed as Amicus Curiae to assist the Supreme Court while hearing a Public Interest Litigation, filed this affidavit. Based on data from the ‘Association for Democratic Reforms’ (ADR), the report states that out of the 251 Lok Sabha MPs with criminal cases, 170 face serious criminal cases (carrying punishment of 5 years or more).
Out of the 75 Rajya Sabha MPs with cases, 40 face serious criminal cases.
Currently, a total of 4,192 criminal cases are pending in courts across the country against sitting as well as former MPs and MLAs.
Meanwhile, out of the country’s 28 Chief Ministers, 14 have declared that they have criminal cases against themselves.
An application has also been made to the Supreme Court to direct special courts to give priority only to cases involving MPs and MLAs for the speedy disposal of cases against public representatives.
