Prevent law breakers from becoming law makers: HC

Allahabad, Sep 6 (UNI) To cleanse and purify the highly sullied political system and prevent law breakers from becoming law makers, Allahabad High Court has issued certain directions to the Uttar Pradesh district judges and DGP.

The court issued the direction, when it was found in the affidavit of the Uttar Pradesh government that there were a total number of 128 criminal cases pending and under investigation against 24 members of Parliament in the state.

The affidavit filed by Special Secretary (Home), civil secretariat UP, Lucknow on July 11, 2006 further revealed 271 criminal cases against 110 MLAs and MLCs were pending in the state.

The division bench comprising Justices Imtiaz Murtaza and Amar Saran passed the order on a writ petition of Karan Singh of Hamirpur.

The court directed the DGP to issue instructions to all investigating officials, investigating 94 criminal cases against 12 MPs, 35 MLAs,22 block pramukhs and two chairpersons, to conclude the investigations in a time bound manner.

The court said the district judges concerned shall direct the court concerned to expeditiously proceed with the trials on day-to- day basis as far as possible in accordance with section 209(1) of the criminal procedure Code (CrPC) and shall try to conclude the trials within six months in fifteen cases.

The court directed the DGP to ensure that investigating officers were present in cases for ensuring that witnesses were given protection and were able to attend the trial on the dates fixed.

The Principal Secretary (Home) was directed to obtain information from other UP districts about the status of 27 cases relating to one MP and 3 MLAs, where information has not been mentioned simply because it relates to another district.

The Principal Secretary shall further submit the status of the 45 criminal cases, which have been declared to be not known against one MP and 10 MLAs within a period of six weeks.

The official and the High Court registrar have also been directed to place the counter affidavit of the Special Secretary (Home) of July 11, 2006 on the websites of the state government and the High Court within three weeks.

''List this case for further orders and receipt of compliance report from the courts and authorities herein above on October 13, 2006,'' directed the bench.

UNI XC VS KD KP2334