The state government will be coming up with rules enabling the withdrawal of politically motivated cases against public representatives. The decision as to who will be the authorised to give sanction to prosecute or reject the cases will be taken in the next three to four months.
Minister of state for law and judiciary Bhaskar Jadhav made the announcement on Wednesday, while speaking about the bill, which brings corporators in municipal corporations and councils under the definition of the term “public servant”.
The bill states that corporators should be considered public servants, enabling the state government to sanction permission for prosecution under Section 197 of Criminal Procedure Code and Section 19 of the Anti-Corruption Act, 1988. The state said that the bill would provide protection to the corporators
from unnecessary allegations and cases of corruption.
Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse raised the point that the state should not use the act to victimise Opposition members, while protecting the ruling party corporators.
“The bill should give a specific period of time, in which the sanction for prosecution should be granted or rejected,” the BJP leader said. MNS group leader Bala Nandgaonkar also seconded Mr Khadse’s demand.
Mr Jadhav said, “The decision about who will be the authority to sanction withdrawal of politically motivated cases will be taken in the next three months after which a decision will be taken.”