Govt. has powers to withdraw criminal cases: Advocate-General

Kochi, Mar 21 (UNI) The Kerala Government told the High Court today that it had powers to take decisions to withdraw criminal cases.

Advocate General C P Sudhakara Prasad submitted that in exercise of its powers the government decided to withdraw 774 criminal cases pending before various courts in the state.

He said the government gave its concurrence to withdraw the cases with the courts' consent. He also brought to the notice of the High Court the Supreme Court ruling upholding the powers of state governments to withdraw cases.

Mr Prasad made the submission when the Court considered a writ petition challenging the state government's decision directing public prosecutors to withdraw 774 criminal cases pending before various courts in the state.

Petitioner Gokul Prasad, Secretary, Peoples' Forum for Natural Justice, argued that the decision to withdraw cases was illegal and arbitrary. All these were connected with serious offences under the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Damages to Public Properties Act, he submitted.

A Division Bench of the Court comprising Acting Chief Justice K S Radhakrishnan and Justice M N Krishnan adjourned the case to March 29 for further hearing.

UNI