Sat Feb 07 09:33:57 UTC 2026: ### Supreme Court to Hear Himachal Pradesh Government’s Plea on Withdrawn Criminal Cases
The Story:
The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a plea filed by the Himachal Pradesh government challenging a High Court order that restricts the withdrawal of 45 criminal cases against current and former Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of Parliament (MPs). These cases include those registered against Congress workers during the Covid pandemic under the previous BJP government for holding rallies. The Himachal Pradesh High Court had previously allowed the withdrawal of only 15 out of 65 cases recommended by the state government.
The Supreme Court bench, consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, issued a notice regarding the plea. The state government, represented by senior advocate V. Giri, argues that withdrawing the cases is in the public interest, based on independent opinions from public prosecutors, district attorneys, district magistrates, and superintendents of police. The hearing is scheduled for March 16, 2026.
Key Points:
* The Supreme Court will hear a plea from the Himachal Pradesh government regarding the withdrawal of criminal cases against lawmakers.
* The Himachal Pradesh High Court previously disallowed the withdrawal of 45 out of 65 recommended cases.
* The cases involve sections of the IPC, National Highways Act, and Disaster Management Act related to offenses like spreading disease, assaulting public servants, and criminal intimidation.
* The High Court referenced the 2020 Supreme Court decision in Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay vs Union of India, mandating court permission for withdrawing cases against sitting and former MLAs.
* The state government argues the withdrawals are in the public interest.
Key Takeaways:
* The Supreme Court’s intervention highlights the complexities of withdrawing criminal cases against politicians, particularly those with potential political motivations.
* The case underscores the judiciary’s role in ensuring that the power to withdraw cases is used responsibly and in the public interest, not for extraneous or political reasons.
* The reference to the 2020 Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay case demonstrates the ongoing legal scrutiny of withdrawals involving lawmakers to prevent abuse of power.
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