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In Assam, the number of legal cases waiting to be resolved against current and former lawmakers is increasing. On December 31, 2018, records showed 38 such cases. By December 2021, this number went up to 68, and in November 2022, it reached 75. These cases include various serious charges, ranging from attempted murder to kidnapping and from giving hate speeches to misappropriating funds. If found guilty, the lawmakers could face severe punishments, including life in prison or at least five years behind bars.
Out of the 75 cases, 33 have been waiting for over five years. Some haven't even started the trial process, while others are still in the investigation stage or are taking witness statements. Seeing the growing number, the Supreme Court of India asked all the high courts in the country to work faster on these cases involving current and former Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
A report given to the Supreme Court by the Gauhati High Court on August 19, 2021, stated that 66 cases involving lawmakers are pending in Assam with 32 judges handling them. As of now, there are 75 such cases, and 40 of these are criminal cases. These pending cases involve 20 MLAs from the BJP-AGP-UPPL alliance, 12 from the Congress party, 10 from the AIUDF, and others are against former MLAs and MPs.
The Supreme Court gave detailed instructions to the high courts to oversee and speed up the resolution of these criminal cases against MPs and MLAs. The Supreme Court also suggested that the high courts should regularly ask for updates on these cases from district and session courts in their areas.