Joint registrar to get orders in public representative cases

Allahabad, Sep 25 (UNI) The Allahabad High Court has directed the joint registrar (inspection) of HC to obtain orders, where applications for withdrawal of criminal cases, pending against the elected public representatives had been allowed.

Passing the order, a division bench, comprising Justices Imtiyaz Murtaza and Amar Saran remarked, ''This is indeed a shocking state of affairs as all the criminals cases pending against the elected representatives have culminated in acquittal.'' An affidavit was filed by S C Mishra, special secretary (home) spelled out that so far 63 criminal cases pending against the elected representatives had been sought to be withdrawn by the state government and out of 49 matters, the court accorded approbation for withdrawal of the cases.

The bench said the orders granting approbation to withdrawal of cases should be produced in all 49 cases so that it might be screened whether withdrawal was granted on valid and legitimate grounds or they were actuated by political pressure or extraneous considerations.

The HC directed the law department of the state to file an affidavit spelling out the details and reasons necessitating withdrawal of prosecutions against the elected representatives in all the cases.

The next hearing of the case would be on November 1.

UNI