AMN / NEW DELHI

cabinetThe Centre has told the Supreme Court that at least 12 special courts will be set up to decide cases involving politicians as accused.

The Ministry of Law and Justice said this in an affidavit filed in pursuance of an order asking it to come up with a scheme for the purpose.

It said, 12 such courts for a period of one year will be set up at a cost of 8 crore rupees. The Centre also sought more time to collect and collate data of pending cases against lawmakers across the country.

The apex court had, last month, directed the Centre to place before it the details regarding 1,581 cases involving MPs and MLAs, as declared by the politicians at the time of filing their nominations during the 2014 general elections.

It had asked the government to apprise it of how many among these cases have been disposed of within one year and how many have ended either in conviction or acquittal.