423 Criminal Cases Pending Against MPs and MLAs

A recent disclosure in the Odisha Assembly has unveiled that 423 criminal cases are currently pending against both former and sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the state. This information was presented during a session addressing concerns over the legal proceedings involving elected representatives.

Breakdown of Pending Cases:

Total Cases: 423

District-wise Distribution:

Khurda: 86 cases
Sundargarh: 53 cases
Ganjam: 51 cases
Koraput: 48 cases
Notably, districts such as Puri, Bhadrak, Jajpur, and Jagatsinghpur reported no pending cases against their MPs and MLAs as of December 2023.

The Orissa High Court has expressed concerns over the backlog of cases involving legislators. Emphasizing the need for expedited proceedings, the court highlighted that many of these cases remain in their initial stages, with some dating back several decades. For instance, cases from 1991 are still pending in Koraput district, while those from 1998 await resolution in Khurda and Sundargarh districts.

In response to the alarming number of unresolved cases, the High Court has issued the following directives:

Prioritization: Designated courts are instructed to prioritize criminal cases against MPs and MLAs, especially those punishable by death or life imprisonment, followed by cases with imprisonment terms of five years or more.

Adjournments: Courts are advised to minimize adjournments, granting them only under rare and compelling circumstances.

Prosecution’s Role: The Director of Prosecution has been tasked to ensure that public prosecutors take necessary steps for the swift disposal of these cases, in line with the Supreme Court’s directives.