Lok Sabha Question No. 3272 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Functioning of MP/MLA Courts
Ministry: LAW AND JUSTICE
Asked by: Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3272 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 08 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## FUNCTIONING OF MP/MLA COURTS

## 3272. SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI:

Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:

(a)  the  details  of  MP/MLA  courts  across  the  country  presently  functioning,  under  construction  and proposed, State-wise, especially in Andhra Pradesh;

(b) the details of cases filed, pending and disposed in MP/MLA courts across the country over the last five years, State-wise, especially in Andhra Pradesh;

(c) the details of vacancies in MP/MLA Courts across the country during the said period, State-wise, especially in Andhra Pradesh;

(d) the total amount of funding allocated, released and utilised for MP/MLA courts established across the country during the said period, State wise, especially in Andhra Pradesh; and

(e)  whether  the  Government  has  undertaken  any  steps  to  increase  the  speed  of  case  resolution  in MP/MLA courts, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) & (b): Pursuant to the Hon'ble Supreme Court's order dated November 1, 2017 and December 14, 2017 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 699/2016 (Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay vs Union of India & Anr.) , the Union Government facilitated the establishment of 12 Special Courts in 11 States (2 in NCT of Delhi and one each in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal) for expeditious trial and disposal of criminal cases involving elected MPs/MLAs. After discontinuation of the Special Courts of Bihar and Kerala as per the Apex Court's direction dated 04.12.2018, ten (10) such Special Courts were functional in 9 States (As of 30.06.2025). The State/UT-wise details of these 10 special MP/MLA Courts, along with information on cases filed, disposed and pending, are at Annexure-I .  In addition to these Special MP/MLA Courts, the States are also running additional MP/MLA Courts. As per information received from the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, one (01) Special Court has been established at Vijayawada for trial of criminal cases relating to MPs and MLAs in the State of Andhra Pradesh, having jurisdiction over the entire State. The details of cases instituted, disposed of and pending in the said MP/MLA court in Andhra Pradesh, over the last five years are as follows:

| Year                    |   Cases Instituted |   Disposed |   Pending at the end |
|-------------------------|--------------------|------------|----------------------|
| 2020                    |                 30 |          6 |                  126 |
| 2021                    |                 27 |         16 |                  137 |
| 2022                    |                 23 |         76 |                   84 |
| 2023                    |                 38 |         46 |                   76 |
| 2024                    |                  8 |         58 |                   26 |
| 2025 (as on 31.07.2025) |                  2 |          9 |                   19 |

(c): The filling up of vacant positions of the judicial officers in District and Subordinate courts (including MP/MLA Courts) is the responsibility of the State/UT Government and the concerned High Courts. As per the Constitutional framework, in exercise of powers conferred under proviso to Article 309 read with Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution, the respective State Government in consultation with the High Court frames the rules and regulations regarding the appointment and recruitment of judicial officers. Hon'ble Supreme Court vide order passed in January 2007 in the Malik Mazhar Sultan case, has inter-alia, stipulated certain timelines, which are to be followed by the States and the respective High Courts for recruitment of judges in District and Subordinate Courts.

(d): The Central Government funds the 10 MP/MLA Courts established and functioning as per the order of Hon'ble Supreme Court to the extent of Rs.65.00 lakh per court per annum, released on request by the State/UT Government. The State/UT-wise details of funds released for the MP/MLA Courts till date are at Annexure-II .

(e): The disposal of pending cases in time bound manner is within the exclusive domain of the judiciary.  However,  the  Central  Government  is  committed  towards  facilitating  an  ecosystem  for expeditious  disposal  of  cases.  To  this  end,  the  Government  set  up  the  National  Mission  for  Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms in 2011, with the twin objectives of increasing access by reducing delays and  arrears  in  the  system  and  enhancing  accountability  through  structural  changes  and  by  setting performance  standards  and  capacities.  The  Mission  has  been  pursuing  a  co-ordinated  approach  for phased  liquidation  of  arrears  and  pendency  in  judicial  administration,  which,  inter-alia,  involves improved  infrastructure  for  courts  including  computerization,  increase  in  strength  of  subordinate judiciary, policy and legislative measures in the areas prone to excessive litigation, re-engineering of court procedure for quick disposal of cases and emphasis on human resource development.

The  e-Courts  project  is  being  implemented  as  integrated  Mission  Mode  Project  for  the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development of the Indian Judiciary as part of the National e-Governance Plan.  Under Phase-III of the e-Courts Project (for the period from 2023 to 2027), several steps have been taken to improve the court management processes and digitize the services for the various stakeholders including lawyers, litigants and judges.

****

State/UT-wise details of the special MP/MLA Courts

| Sl. No.        | Name of the States/UTs   |   Functional Courts as of 30.06.2025 |   Cases Registered from 2020 to 30.06.2025 | Cases Disposed from 2020 to 30.06.2025   | Pendency as on 30.06.2025   |
|----------------|--------------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------|
| 1 Andhra       | Pradesh* 1               |                                  128 |                                        211 | 19                                       |                             |
| 2 Delhi        | 2                        |                                  401 |                                        404 |                                          | 38                          |
| Karnataka      | 1                        |                                  720 |                                        658 | 91                                       | 3                           |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1                        |                                  427 |                                        733 | 5                                        | 4                           |
| Maharashtra    | 1                        |                                  680 |                                        743 | 11                                       | 5                           |
| Tamil Nadu     | 1                        |                                  223 |                                        361 | 18                                       | 6                           |
| Telangana      | 1                        |                                  365 |                                        439 | 197                                      | 7                           |
| Uttar Pradesh  | 1                        |                                 2077 |                                       1934 | 7                                        | 8                           |
| West Bengal    | 1                        |                                  136 |                                        280 | 9                                        | 9                           |
|                | TOTAL                    |                                   10 |                                       5157 | 5763                                     | 395                         |

*Data as on 31.07.2025 Source: As provided by the respective High Courts on the Department of Justice Dashboard.

## Annexure-I

State/UT-wise details of funds released for the special MP/MLA Courts

| Sl. No.                                                                                                   | Name of the States/UTs                                                                                    | Total Fund Released (Rs)                                                                                  |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1                                                                                                         | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                            | 1,30,00,000                                                                                               |
| 2                                                                                                         | Delhi                                                                                                     | 2,60,00,000                                                                                               |
| 3                                                                                                         | Karnataka                                                                                                 | 3,90,00,000                                                                                               |
| 4                                                                                                         | Madhya Pradesh                                                                                            | 2,60,00,000                                                                                               |
| 5                                                                                                         | Maharashtra                                                                                               | 2,58,00,000                                                                                               |
| 6                                                                                                         | Tamil Nadu                                                                                                | 2,60,00,000                                                                                               |
| 7                                                                                                         | Telangana                                                                                                 | 1,30,00,000                                                                                               |
| 8                                                                                                         | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                             | 1,30,00,000                                                                                               |
| 9                                                                                                         | West Bengal                                                                                               | 1,30,00,000                                                                                               |
| 10                                                                                                        | Bihar*                                                                                                    | 65,00,000                                                                                                 |
| 11                                                                                                        | Kerala*                                                                                                   | 65,00,000                                                                                                 |
|                                                                                                           | TOTAL                                                                                                     | 20,78,00,000                                                                                              |
| * Special courts of Bihar and Kerala were discontinued as per the Apex Court's direction dated 04.12.2018 | * Special courts of Bihar and Kerala were discontinued as per the Apex Court's direction dated 04.12.2018 | * Special courts of Bihar and Kerala were discontinued as per the Apex Court's direction dated 04.12.2018 |