Assam CM Sarma announces 1 Lakh ‘minor’ criminal cases to be withdrawn

Himanta Biswa Sharma, Assam Chief Minister announced on Monday that one lakh “petty cases”, including those filed for allegedly inflammatory social media posts, would be withdrawn. Sarma made this announcement while addressing the people of Guwahati on the occasion of the 76th Independence Day at Khanapara Guwahati.

The Chief Minister said that the cases registered before midnight of August 14, 2021 will be withdrawn.

He added that this would allow the judiciary to focus more on major cases like rape and murder.

“This will enable the judiciary to focus on more heinous crimes like rape and murder,” Sarma said, adding that there were four lakh pending cases in the lower courts.