Ranchi, April 19: The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday expressed concern over the prolonged delays in criminal trials involving Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a status report by June 17.
The directive came during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated by the court on its own motion, seeking to ensure the timely prosecution of elected public representatives.
Amicus Curiae Advocate Manoj Tandon told the court that in several cases, charges are not framed even five to six years after the CBI has filed chargesheets. He said the agency has failed to ensure the appearance of witnesses or to fast-track the proceedings.
“My concern is that there has been a delay in the hearing of the cases related to MPs and MLAs, and there should be a speedy trial,” said Tandon. “Despite being a premier investigative agency, the CBI has been unsuccessful in ensuring the timely appearance of witnesses and in expediting the trial process.”
In response, CBI counsel Prashant Pallav said the agency would study the order sheets of the pending cases and submit an explanation for the delays.
“We have taken two weeks’ time to verify the cases, find out the reasons behind the delay, and submit a detailed report on June 17,” Pallav said.
According to court records, 12 criminal cases involving MPs and MLAs are currently pending in Jharkhand—nine in the Ranchi Civil Court and three in Dhanbad.
The court is expected to resume hearings in the matter on June 17.
