Centre to set up 12 special courts to deal with cases against 1,581 tainted lawmakers
Centre has proposed to set up 12 Special Courts to expeditiously decide criminal cases pending against lawmakers in terms of its March 10, 2014 order. Centre has proposed a scheme under which 12 Special Courts will be set up to decide criminal cases against lawmakers within one year. An amount of Rs 7.8 crore has been earmarked after taking into account the revised pay-scales of judges. The estimated cost of setting up one Special Court has been calculated to be Rs 65 lakh. One Special Court can dispose of 165 cases in a year, as per an estimate. Trials in states with less than 65 cases can be completed in the existing Fast Track Courts, the affidavit suggested. On November 1, the top court had asked the Centre to consider setting up special courts to try cases against lawmakers facing criminal charges — after it was informed that 1,581 lawmakers had criminal cases pending against them at the time of filing nominations in 2014.
