Ten out of the 12 special courts, set up to try nearly 1,600 criminal cases pending against MPs and MLAs, have started functioning, the Law Ministry has said.
The remaining two courts -- one each in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu -- are likely to start functioning soon, it said.
In a communication to Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha on April 19, the department of justice in the Law Ministry said that, "as on date, 10 out of 12 such courts have already been made functional.
"The remaining two courts -- one each in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh are likely to start functioning soon."
The department of justice has already released Rs 65.04 lakh of funds earmarked for financial year 2017-18 to the concerned states for the special courts.
The Supreme Court had in November last directed the government to come up with a scheme to set up 12 special courts to try 1,581 criminal cases pending against MPs and MLAs.
The apex court had approved the scheme and had directed the Centre to allocate grants to the concerned state governments where such special courts are proposed to be set up. The courts were to commence operation from March 1 for speedy disposal of the cases.
The Supreme Court had favoured creation of special courts to exclusively deal with criminal cases involving politicians and their speedy disposal, saying such a move would be in the "interest of the nation".
"An estimated expenditure of Rs 7.8 crore to make 12 courts operational for one year has been prepared. The proportionate allocation to the concerned states where such courts would be setup is being worked out," Secretary (Justice) in the Law Ministry had informed the Cabinet Secretary in January.
The Delhi High Court had recently directed that all cases against MPs and MLAs that are pending in various courts be transferred to the special courts designated for the purpose.
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