35% Odisha MLAs, 5 MPs to face trial in fast-track courts for criminal cases

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha politicians involved in criminal cases are set to face speedy trial as the union government told the Supreme Court on Tuesday it has framed a scheme to set up 12 special courts for a year to fast-track the trial.

Based on the information available with Odisha Election Watch on sitting MLAs of the Odisha Assembly, it is seen that out of 147 MLAs whose affidavits were analysed by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 52 MLAs or 35% of the total MLAs had declared pending criminal cases against themselves at the time of contesting in elections held in 2014.

Out of these, 41 had declared serious criminal cases and form or 28% of the total number of sitting MLAs. Among the political parties, BJD has the maximum number of MLAs with criminal cases (32) followed by INC, with 9 MLAs and BJP with 8 MLAs.

The status of Lok Sabha MPs from Odisha with declared criminal cases against themselves was also analysed.

Out of 21 MPs from Odisha whose affidavits were analysed by ADR, three (14% of total MPs from Odisha) have declared cases against themselves. But it is to be noted that one of the Lok Sabha MP from BJD has declared serious criminal cases pending which forms 5% of the total Lok Sabha MPs from Odisha.

Two MPs from BJD and one MP from BJP have declared criminal cases against themselves.

The Upper House of the Parliament or the Rajya Sabha too is not immune from MPs from Odisha with declared criminal cases.

Out of 10 Rajya Sabha MPs from Odisha whose affidavits were analysed by ADR, two have declared criminal cases. Thus, 20% of the total Rajya Sabha MPs from Odisha have declared criminal cases against themselves.