SC verdict to keep criminals out of power

New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court Wednesday declared unconstitutional the provision of the Representation of the People Act that allows elected representatives to continue as members of the elected bodies even after conviction in criminal cases.

"If because of a disqualification a person cannot be chosen as a member of parliament or state legislature, for the same disqualification, he cannot continue as a member of parliament or the state legislature," the court said.

"Parliament does not have the power under Articles 102(1)(e) and 191(1)(e) of the constitution to make different laws for a person to be disqualified for being chosen as a member and for a person to be disqualified for continuing as a member of parliament or the state legislature," said the apex court bench of Justice A.K. Patnaik and Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya.

"The language of Articles 102(1)(e) and 191(1)(e) of the constitution is such that the disqualification for both a person to be chosen as a member of parliament or the state legislature or for a person to continue as a member of parliament or the state legislature has to be the same."

The judgment would come into effect from Wednesday.

Justice Patnaik said: "Sitting members of parliament and state legislature who have already been convicted for any of the offences... (and) saved from the disqualifications by virtue of sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the Act should not, in our considered opinion, be affected by the declaration now made by us in this judgment."

"This is because the knowledge that sitting members of parliament or state legislatures will no longer be protected by sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the act will be acquired by all concerned only on the date this judgment is pronounced by this court," the court said.

"...if any sitting member of parliament or a state legislature is convicted of any of the offence and by virtue of such conviction and/or sentence suffers the disqualifications after the pronouncement of this judgment, his membership of parliament or the state legislature, as the case may be, will not be saved by subsection (4) of Section 8 of the act which we have by this judgment declared as ultra vires the constitution", the court said.

Subsection 4 of Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act permits an elected representative to continue in the legislature or parliament even after he or she has been convicted of a criminal offence, provided he or she gets a stay on the conviction and sentencing by a higher court.

Under this provision of the Act, such a person can even contest elections after the existing house has been dissolved. However, a similar right to contest an election is not available to a convict who is not a member of a state legislature or parliament.

The court said this while allowing two public interest litigations Lily Thomas and NGO Lok Prahari.

The petitioners said subsection 4 of Section 8 of the Act shielded elected representative with criminal antecedents.

Congress welcomes SC ruling on disqualification of convicted MPs, MLAs

New Delhi, July 10 (ANI): Congress Party on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court verdict on disqualification of convicted lawmakers, saying it welcomes any ruling that seeks to cleanse the political system.

"Any checks and balances to clean public life are appreciated. I can't say more on it," said Congress spokesperson Renuka Chaudhary.

BJP plays safe on SC verdict on disqualification of convicted MPs, MLAs

New Delhi, July 10 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday avoided commenting on the Supreme Court verdict striking down a provision in the electoral law that protects a convicted lawmaker from disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal in higher courts, saying it would come out with an opinion only after going through the judgment.

BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said that his political outfit would be supportive of any initiative for purifying the political process.

"If you are convicted, you cannot contest elections. However, if you are a sitting MP or MLA, and if your appeal is accepted, then you can retain the position. A lot of questions have been raised on the verdict," said Prasad.

"Many also termed it discriminatory. The party will comment on this later after studying the court verdict," he added.

Yesterday was a RED LETTER DAY in India's history.

It should be declare a National Day, I would not say holiday for we already have plenty of holidays.

This should be a national day, without a holiday.

The Supreme Court should be congratulated for passing one more judgement against corrupt, criminal politicians.

Now, these politicians will have to get their names cleared before they can stand for elections instead of just dilly dallying in courts through adjournments for frivolous reasons.

This is what I have been fighting for since I first started this blog.

I would also like to congratulate Association of Democratic Rights and National Election Watch for high lighting the issue of criminalisation among our Honourable? MLAs and MPs.

The Congress and BJP have given their muted comments.

I am waiting with bated breath for the comments of the BSP, SP and JMM, as these are the most corrupt parties.