Taking a grim view of the administrative delays in high-stakes litigation, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a strict directive to the District and Sessions Judges of Karnal and Mewat (Nuh) to submit status reports on cases pending against former and sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) within 15 days.
The order was passed by a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu while hearing a suo motu matter regarding the monitoring of criminal cases against legislators. The Bench observed that despite previous orders issued on November 10 and December 16, 2025, the required reports from these two sessions divisions had not yet been received. The court directed the Registrar-General to requisition the reports immediately, which must explain the current status of the trials and specific reasons for any delays.
Data presented during the hearing revealed a significant backlog: as many as 183 criminal cases involving sitting or former lawmakers are currently pending before the High Court. Additionally, the High Court website indicates that another 159 civil cases related to parliamentarians and legislators are yet to be adjudicated.
The High Court’s directive aligns with the Supreme Court’s mandate to “fast-lane” criminal trials involving elected representatives. The Apex Court had previously instructed High Courts to allocate such cases to special benches and, where necessary, conduct day-to-day hearings to ensure disposal within two months. The Bench reiterated that administrative lethargy would not be tolerated in matters affecting public trust in the political and judicial systems.