M.P. Special Courts Bill gets presidential nod

• The Madhya Pradesh Vishesh Nyayalaya Adhiniyam (Madhya Pradesh Special Courts Bill) 2011 has received the presidential assent and will come into force on February 15, 2012.
• The anti-corruption act equips the government with wide-ranging powers to weed out corruption, including the power to confiscate illegally earned properties of corrupt officials and use them as public assets. A similar law is already in force in Bihar.
• Under the Act, special courts dealing with corruption cases will be set up at Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Indore. Each of these cities will have two such courts, which will try cases related to amassing of disproportionate wealth/property by public servants.
• The Act prescribes a time-limit of one year for the trial of anti-corruption cases.
• This is the second Bill from the State to receive presidential assent this year, the first being the controversial anti-cow slaughter legislation.