New Delhi: The Supreme Court has set the deadline of one year to conclude the trials of criminal cases against MPs or MLAs within one year time period.

The deadline has been set for the lower courts to complete the trial within a year of framing charges involving lawmakers.

If the trial is not completed within a year, the trial courts will have to provide explanation to the respective Chief Justice regarding the reasons about it.

The decision was announced by the bench headed by Justice RM Lodha.

The court noted that despite of being charged with heinous offences, the lawmakers continue to enjoy their positions in various government bodies only because the trial is kept pending for years.

Keeping this in mind, the court ordered that hearings be conducted on a day-to-day basis so that the trial can be expedited.

Several MPs and MLAs continue to be the part of legislative bodies due to delay in the proceedings by court.

The decision was made after a PIL was filed by an NGO seeking directions regarding the cases involving lawmakers.

With this decision of Supreme Court, many prominent politicians may face disqualification from contesting in the elections next month if they are convicted in the cases against them.