Maharashtra Cabinet Sub-Committee Recommends Withdrawal of 44 Cases from Agitations

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Cabinet Sub-Committee on Wednesday recommended the withdrawal of 44 cases registered during various religious, political, and social agitations in the state. The recommendation will now be placed before the state government for final approval.

Cultural Affairs Minister and Sub-Committee Chairman Ashish Shelar announced the decision. The committee, comprising senior ministers, was constituted to review cases from such agitations and recommend withdrawal where appropriate, as part of a government policy to reduce judicial pendency, address grievances from past protests, and provide relief to those involved in non-violent demonstrations.

With this addition, the total number of cases recommended for withdrawal has reached 121, following an earlier batch of 77. During its latest meeting, the committee examined 133 applications pertaining to police-recorded cases. Shelar stated that only non-heinous, non-serious cases were considered. The committee reiterated that offences related to crimes against women, serious criminal offences, and personal or civil disputes cannot be pardoned under the policy, and such applications were refused. Shelar said the committee thoroughly scrutinised each application to ensure no cases involving grievous harm or moral turpitude were recommended.

The exercise is part of a broader state government initiative to review pending cases from public protests. The aim is to ease the burden on courts and promote social harmony by closing cases that are minor or have been pending excessively. However, the government has emphasised that serious crimes will not be compromised.

The Cabinet Sub-Committee's recommendations are not final and require approval from the state cabinet. The process involves scrutiny by the law and judiciary department before cases are formally withdrawn in court. Under Section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the public prosecutor can withdraw from prosecution with the court's consent, granted only if the withdrawal is in public interest.

Withdrawing cases from agitations has been a recurring practice in Maharashtra, with previous governments undertaking similar reviews. While such decisions often face criticism for potentially undermining law enforcement, supporters say they help resolve old disputes and reduce litigation. The government maintains the process is transparent and based on legal merit.

The 44 newly recommended cases span multiple districts and cover agitations over the years, including those on reservation, farmer rights, and religious processions. Specific details remain confidential.

This move is expected to provide relief to numerous individuals, but with safeguards that serious offences face no leniency. The recommendations will now proceed to the cabinet for a final decision.