14 of 28 CMs face serious criminal cases, Supreme Court told

According to a report by the Times of India, the Supreme Court of India has been presented with data highlighting the prevalence of criminal charges among the country's elected representatives. The findings indicate that 14 out of 28 state chief ministers are currently facing serious criminal cases, with the leader of Telangana reportedly having the highest number of pending charges among them.

The data further extends to the national legislature, revealing that 170 members of the Lok Sabha and 75 members of the Rajya Sabha are currently involved in pending criminal proceedings. Among the states, Uttar Pradesh was identified as having the highest concentration of legislators facing such charges. The report underscores a growing concern regarding the integrity of the political process and the potential for these cases to influence governance.

In response to these figures, there have been renewed calls for the establishment and empowerment of special courts tasked with expediting the trials of elected officials. Proponents of this measure argue that the current judicial backlog allows individuals with serious criminal allegations to remain in office for extended periods without resolution. The Supreme Court continues to monitor the situation as part of broader efforts to address the criminalization of politics within the Indian democratic framework.