Bhubaneswar, Feb 25: The Orissa High Court has set a fresh deadline for the Odisha government to provide an update on the steps taken for the early disposal of criminal cases pending against Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in different designated courts. The court has granted an additional four weeks for the state government to comply with the order issued on January 11, 2024, and has scheduled a review for March 20, 202412.
As per the reports from district judges, there are currently 435 pending cases against MPs and MLAs in Odisha. In January 2024, eight cases were disposed of, while 20 new cases were instituted. Among the total cases, only 69 have reached the trial stage. The highest number of pending cases is in Khurda (86), followed by Sambalpur (55), Koraput (51), Ganjam (50), Sundargarh (41), and Cuttack (36). Notably, some cases date back to 1991 in Koraput district, while others trace back to 1998 in Khurda and Sundargarh districts.
During January, new cases were instituted in various districts, including Nayagarh, Sambalpur, Koraput, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, and Cuttack. Additionally, four cases were disposed of in Sambalpur district, and one each in Balasore, Balangir, Cuttack, and Ganjam districts.
In response to a Supreme Court directive, the High Court had initiated a suo motu case on December 11, 2023, prompting judges to provide statements regarding case institution, disposal, and pendency. Subsequently, the court instructed district and sessions judges to expedite the resolution of cases against MPs and MLAs through the designated courts within their respective jurisdiction
