SC asks Centre to give details of MLAs, MPs with criminal records

The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Central Government for not furnishing details of Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) with criminal records.

A division bench of the apex court, which was headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices Naveen Sinha and K M Joseph asked the Centre to file a detailed response in the matter by September 5.

The apex court was hearing a petition filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay seeking court's direction to establish special courts to expeditiously try criminal cases registered against MPs, MLAs.

On August 21, the top court had sought an affidavit from the Central Government to track down the number of special courts that have been set up to deal with criminal cases that involve MLAs and MPs. A five-judge constitution bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, noted a batch of petitions seeking a direction to the Central Government to set up special courts for such cases.

However, Attorney General KK Venugopal, who appeared for the Centre, had opposed the petitions stating that it is the Parliament that amends or makes any law.