New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh government takes action on Friday Supreme Court Questioning the Supreme Court’s decision not to allow it to withdraw all 65 FIRs filed against MPs, MLAs and politicians involving non-serious offences. On July 20, 2023, the Congress government headed by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking permission to withdraw prosecution against current and former MPs/MLAs of various parties who were named in 65 FIRs on the recommendation of the prosecutor. The HC found that 5 out of 65 FIRs had been disposed of and allowed the withdrawal of prosecution in 15 FIRs after examining the records. With an FIR detail being repeated in the list and four more cases having resulted in acquittals/releases, more than a year after the HC decision, the HP government sought permission from the SC to withdraw prosecution in the remaining 39 cases. Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice on the petition and posted the matter on March 16. The HP government, through senior advocate V Giri, said it is seeking withdrawal of the prosecution in public interest after consulting the DM and SP and seeking independent opinions from the public prosecutor and district attorney. Supreme Court rules in Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay case 2021 that prosecutors can withdraw prosecution to further broad objectives of justice “These cases/FIRs relate to peaceful public disturbance and did not result in any damage to property or injury to persons,” the HP government said.
