NEW DELHI: In a decision that could deal a body blow to their ilk, the Centre today told the Supreme Court ( SC ) it has agreed to set up special courts to deal with cases against the country's elected representatives.

After all, in 2014, as many as 1,581 lawmakers - that is, Members of Parliament ( MPs ) and members of legislative assemblies ( MLAs ) - were facing prosecution in a mind-boggling 13,500 cases. The numbers would only have increased since. But with these special courts, an end is in sight to the inordinate delay in prosecuting politicians who have been sitting pretty in their positions for far too long.

The Centre told the SC today that it will start with 12 such special courts, and added that it has allotted Rs 7.80 crore for the purpose. It also sought some time from the top court to collect data on cases pending against elected representatives across the country, so it can better decide on how many special courts it needs to set up in total.

To be sure, it is on the SC's urging that the Centre has decided to set up these courts to expedite dealing with cases against politicians. The SC had in 2015 laid down that such courts be set up soon. Early last month, the apex court reminded the Centre to set up special courts to exclusively try lawmakers and decide cases within a year.

On the setting up of special courts, SC Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha emphasised the need to set up special courts by pointing out that on average, 4,200 cases are handled by each of the 17,000 subordinate courts.

Also last month, by coincidence, the Election Commission (EC) said for the first time that convicted MPs and MLAs must be debarred from contesting polls - ever. During a hearing, the EC told the court that a law was needed to curb the growing menace of criminalisation of politics.

During an earlier hearing, an SC bench pulled up the EC for not taking a stand on the issue and asked how the commission could afford to be silent on it.

"Can you afford to remain silent? Is silence an option?" the bench had asked.

Clarifying the EC's stand, senior advocate Meenakshi Arora and lawyer Mohit D Ram said the poll watchdog had already recommended to the Centre to amend an existing law to incorporate a life ban provision against convicted lawmakers. The existing law calls for a six-year ban after the lawmaker has completed their sentence.

The Centre, meanwhile, refused to take a stand on the issue and told the bench that the matter was under consideration and the government was examining the recommendations of the Law Commission and EC for imposing a life ban on convicted MPs and MLAs from electoral politics.

Appearing for the Centre, additional solicitor general A N S Nadkarni told the bench that Centre is not averse to setting up special courts to try criminal cases/offences involving politicians. He, however, contended that it was for the state governments to set up additional courts as the issue comes within their jurisdiction.

The bench was not happy with what it called "an excuse" and said so.

"On the one hand you are making [a] commitment but on the other hand you are washing your hands of it," the bench said.

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In Video: Criminal politicians: Soon, 12 special courts for cases against MPs, MLAs