The Central Government has been asked by the Supreme Court of its intention to establish more special courts to conduct speedy trials of criminal cases against corrupt Members of Parliament (MP) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA). The SC has directed the Central Government to file an affidavit in this regard, furnishing the details on the working of 12 such courts established to adjudicate criminal cases against the MPs and MLAs.

The SC has directed the Centre to inform the Court about the territorial extent of these special courts in terms of trying criminal cases against parliamentarians and whether the special courts are sessions court or magisterial court. The SC has also enquired about the cases that are pending in these courts.

The SC has been informed by the advocate representing the Delhi High Court that two special courts have already been established out of which one is Sessions and the other one is Magisterial. In this regard, the SC has directed the Registrar General of the Delhi HC to submit details about the cases that have been transferred to these two courts by August 28, 2018.