District-level committees formed to withdraw politically motivated cases

The government has formed district-level committees to recommend the withdrawal of politically-motivated and harassment cases through a transparent and systematic manner.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently issued a gazette notification that outlines the committees' composition, scope of work and operational procedures, said a PID handout  today (3 August).

According to the notification, the committees were formed to ensure that the process of reviewing and recommending the withdrawal of such cases is carried out in a transparent and systematic manner.

The deputy commissioner in his or her capacity as the district magistrate will serve as the chairperson of the district-level committee.

The superintendent of police and the public prosecutor will be members, while the Additional district magistrate will act as the member secretary.

For metropolitan areas, a deputy commissioner of police will replace the superintendent of police, while the metropolitan public prosecutor will serve in place of the public prosecutor.

The notification states that an accused person or any one of the accused's immediate family members —father, mother, spouse, brother, sister, son or daughter—may submit an application on behalf of the accused to the district magistrate of the concerned district seeking withdrawal of a politically motivated case.

An applicant must attach photocopies of all relevant case documents certified by the lawyer concerned along with the application, it said.

With the issuance of the new notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs' earlier gazette notification issued on 21 May, 2026 stands cancelled.