Hyderabad: As many as 28 serious cases, most of them pending for three to four years, against Greater Hyderabad corporators from all political parties, have been transferred to Central Crime Station (CCS). Experts feel the transfer to CCS would only lead to further delay.
On the whole, there are 150 cases booked against ward leaders of GHMC of which nearly 30 have been withdrawn and closed, owing to lack of evidence. In many of the withdrawn cases against corporators, political interference and pressure is palpable.
In spite of 18 pending cases against him, Mr Raja Singh, former corporator of Mangalghat, was given a ticket and was elected BJP MLA from Goshamahal Assembly constituency. The Supreme Court in March this year set a deadline for lower courts to complete trials against MLAs and MPs within a year. A bench headed by Justice R. M. Lodha also said that trial courts are required to furnish an explanation to the Chief Justice of their respective High Courts if the trial is not completed within a year.
The period, however, can be extended by the Chief Justice of the High Court if he finds the reason given by trial judge for not completing the trial within this period, satisfactory enough. Minister of Home Affairs even wrote to all the state governments to expedite their case proceedings so that the deadline can be met.
"The act says that disqualification clause equally applies to corporators. GHMC ward leaders, who have cases pending for more than one year must have those dealt with faster as per the SC order. However, many of the cases against corporators have been pending for over 3 years, including the Hyderabad Mayor’s s case ( cr. No. 46/2011 U/s 147, 148.307 r/w 149 I.P.C. of Humayun
Nagar P.S.), booked in 2011, in which he is facing the charge of attempt to murder and rioting.
The CCS should immediately expedite the inquiry and file the cases in the court," said Mr M. Padmanabha Reddy, Secretary Forum for Good Governance. That apart, in a particular case, it is alleged that when two AIMIM local MLAs and a half a dozen corporators attacked Charminar Police station and damaged property, the circle inspector of Charminar PS, main witness of the incident, gave a report stating that no evidence was found, after one whole year, bucking under political pressure and the case was closed thus, added the secretary.
