New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Central Government for not furnishing the details of the MLAs and MPs who have criminal cases against them. The apex court also asked the Union Government to file its detailed response before September 5. A petition had earlier been moved in the SC seeking its direction to establish special courts to expeditiously try criminal cases registered against MPs and MLAs. Also Read - SC Dismisses Pleas Of Maharashtra Govt, Anil Deshmukh Against CBI Enquiry On Parambir Singh's Allegations

Last year in September, the Supreme Court had asked the government to consider legislating on setting up of new fast-track courts to expedite criminal case trials against parliamentarians and legislators. It said Parliament had the competence to come up with a law and create the necessary infrastructure for setting up of such courts for speedy disposal of cases against lawmakers. Also Read - Supreme Court Sentences Man to 3-month Jail For Not Paying Rs 2.60 Crore Arrears to Estranged Wife

In December 2017, a Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi, had directed the Central Government to set up 12 special courts to hear the criminal cases against the politicians from March 1. On August 21, the apex court asked the government how many special courts had been set up to take up the day-to-day trial of the cases against the politicians.

The top court also asked the Central Government to inform it about the number of cases pending in each of the special courts and if these courts are courts of sessions or magisterial courts and to provide the details of their jurisdiction. Last week, the bench had asked the government to place all the details before it for the next hearing on August 28.