In the backdrop of Supreme Court setting a deadline to complete trial in cases involving legislators, Union law and justice ministry is understood to have written to the Chief Justices of all high courts asking them to expedite cases against sitting MLAs and MPs.
Sources said the move also comes against the backdrop of a directive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cleanse politics from tainted legislators.
The decision to write to Chief Justices of all high courts was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Union home minister Rajnath Singh and attended by Mr Prasad and top home and law ministry officials besides attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi, which took place earlier this week. Sources stated that the move can affect 61 MPs in both houses of Parliament who face criminal charges. If convicted, they would be removed from their respective legislature as per another Supreme Court order.
Law-makers who get a sentence of two years or more in jail must leave office, the court had ruled last year.
Cases against MPs and MLAs which attract disqualification under Section 8(1), 8(2) and 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act needed to be completed within one year of framing charges according to a March 10 direction of the Supreme Court. Any sentence which attracts punishment of two years and above can lead to disqualification from Parliament or state legislature.
With the Modi government having just completed 100 days in office the government hopes that the measures will help it project itself as an administration committed to reforms.