Tiwari, a cabinet minister between 1996 to 2007, passed away on May 16. His death marks the end of a chapter in Purvanchal's politics which was marked by the criminalisation of politics, caste-based gang war and gave rise to Brahmin-Thakur politics.
The report, submitted by amicus curiae Vijay Hansaria, notes that 5,097 cases are pending against lawmakers throughout the country. Of these, 40% have been pending for more than five years.
The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against heads of political parties for not following its directions to prevent criminalisation of politics in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls held earlier this year.