Over 4,000 Criminal Cases Pending Against Sitting and Former Lawmakers: SC

Senior advocate acting as amicus curiae informed the Supreme Court that over 4,000 criminal cases remain pending against sitting and former Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) across India. Submitting a comprehensive compliance report, the amicus highlighted that nearly 700 cases are still stuck at the investigation stage, with over 360 cases lingering for more than three years without law enforcement filing a formal chargesheet.

The disclosure came during hearings of a long-standing public interest litigation filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay seeking life bans on convicted politicians and the establishment of special fast-track courts. Under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a lawmaker convicted of specified offenses and sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more stands disqualified from holding office and contesting elections for six years post-release.

The report noted that states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and West Bengal account for a major share of pending trials against political representatives. In landmark rulings such as Lily Thomas v. Union of India (2013), the apex court struck down Section 8(4) of the RP Act, removing the automatic stay on disqualification upon filing an appeal.

The delay in judicial proceedings undermines public trust in democratic institutions and allows individuals facing serious criminal charges to frame public policy. Candidates preparing for UPSC and SSC exams should master this topic for GS Paper II under Electoral Reforms, Criminalisation of Politics, and Disqualification of Lawmakers.