New Delhi, Sept. 9 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the Himachal Pradesh government to withdraw prosecution in several criminal cases registered against sitting and former MLAs during the COVID-19 pandemic, observing that the cases did not involve any grave or heinous offences.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana noted that the cases involved incidents such as burning of effigies and holding dharnas on highways, with no reported injury or damage to public property.

The court's order came on the State's appeal against an April 2024 Himachal Pradesh High Court order.

The High Court had allowed withdrawal of prosecution in 15 of 65 cases but declined permission in others involv...