Orissa HC Seeks Details Of Criminal Cases Against Politicians

Cuttack: Political leaders with criminal cases against them may find themselves in trouble as the Orissa High Court has taken a stern step to decriminalise politics in Odisha.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the matter following the Supreme Court order regarding special courts for MPs and MLAs, the High Court has issued notice to the Advocate General of Odisha seeking data pertaining to the criminal cases pending before different courts against both current and former MPs and MLAs of the state.

Similarly, the Registrar general of Orissa High Court has been directed to file an affidavit with regard to infrastructure, such as staff, building etc. provided for expeditious disposal of the criminal cases and early completion of trials of such cases.

Commenting on the development, BJD leader Amar Prasad Satapathy said, “There are a lot of small cases such as dharna, protest-related cases pending against many leaders. Those should be disposed off at the earliest so that a transparent democracy should come into effect.”

Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly, Pradipta Nayak said, “Those with criminal cases against them do not have any moral right to be a public leader. The government should immediately provide all the documents sought by the court to decriminalise politics.”

Congress MLA Sura Routray said, “There are bureaucrats too who are involved in criminal cases. A joint investigation should be undertaken to bring both political leaders and bureaucrats under scanner.”

The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for October 19, 2020.

(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)

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