Over 200 lawmakers in UP facing criminal cases: PIL in HC

A PIL has been filed in the Allahabad High Court seeking direction to the Uttar Pradesh government for expediting trials of criminal cases against over 200 lawmakers from the state.
The PIL, filed by Ashutosh Gupta, has alleged that at present, criminal cases were pending against "32 members of Parliament, 189 members of Legislative Assembly and 22 members of Legislative Council".
The Allahabad High Court today fixed December 18 as the date of hearing in the matter.
Alleging that criminals and mafias were influencing the politics of the state, the PIL has sought monitoring of trials of cases against the tainted lawmakers by the court.

A preliminary objection was raised with regard to the maintainability of the PIL by Advocate General V C Mishra who said the state government would take "appropriate action" in the matter.
However, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Sanjay Misra decided to go ahead with hearing on the matter and fixed December 18 as the next date of hearing.