The Representation of the People Act
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Legislators convicted of crime/ Criminals in politics
MPs, MLAs will be disqualified on date of conviction: SC
PTI | Jul 10, 2013
NewDelhi: In a judgment that may help decriminalize politics, the Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a provision in the electoral law that protects a convicted lawmaker from disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal in higher courts.
The apex court also made it clear that MPs, MLAs and MLCs would stand disqualified on the date of conviction.
The court said Parliament had exceeded its powers by enacting the provision (Section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act) that permits a convicted lawmaker to remain in office on the ground that appeals have been filed and are pending. The bench of justices A K Patnaik and S J Mukhopadhaya, in its 41-page verdict, however, clarified that convicted lawmakers whose appeals are pending prior to pronouncement of Wednesday’s verdict are “saved” as it would come into effect prospectively.
The court discussed Article 101(3)(a) and 190(3)(a) of the Constitution that deal with the issue of disqualification of MPs of either House of Parliament and MLA and MLCs of the legislative assembly or legislative council of the state respectively. PTI
Breather for legislators who’ve filed appeals
“We also hold that the provisions of Article 101 (3)(a) and 190(3)(a) of the Constitution expressly prohibit Parliament to defer the date from which the disqualification will come into effect in case of a sitting member of Parliament or a State Legislature.
“Parliament, therefore, has exceeded its powers conferred by the Constitution in enacting sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the (RP) Act and accordingly sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the Act is ultra vires to the Constitution,” it said.
It said as “Parliament had no power to enact sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the Act” and hence, it would not deal with other issues raised in the two PILs filed by a lawyer Lily Thomas and NGO Lok Prahari. The PILs had sought striking down of this provision on the ground that they violate certain constitutional provisions which, among other things, expressly put a bar on criminals getting registered as voters or becoming MPs or MLAs.
The SC said, “Sitting members of Parliament and State Legislature who have already been convicted for any of the offences mentioned in subsection (1), (2) and (3) of Section 8 of the Act and who have filed appeals or revisions which are pending and are accordingly saved from the disqualifications by virtue of sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the Act should not be affected by the declaration now made by us in this judgement.
“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 judgement is pronounced by this Court.”
It, however, said if any sitting MPs, MLAs of MLCs are convicted after the pronouncement of this verdict “his membership of Parliament or the State Legislature will not be saved by subsection (4) of Section 8 of the Act which we have by this judgement declared as ultra vires the Constitution notwithstanding that he files the appeal or revision against the conviction and /or sentence.” PTI
Persons in jail or police custody cannot contest elections to legislative bodies
Double whammy: Netas in jail can’t fight polls, says SC
TNN & AGENCIES 2013/07/12
New Delhi: The days of politicians fighting elections from jail are over. The Supreme Court has ruled that a person, who is in jail or in police custody, cannot contest elections to legislative bodies.
The far-reaching order was passed by the apex court along with its landmark verdict that MPs, MLAs and MLCs would be disqualified the day they are convicted. This double whammy against criminals in Indian legislatures is expected to go a long way in cleaning up politics.
An apex court bench of Justices A K Patnaik and S J Mukhopadhayay ruled that only an “elector” can contest the polls and he/she forfeits the right to vote during imprisonment or in police custody. However, the court said this disqualification would not be applicable to a person subjected to preventive detention under any law.
The court based its order on provisions of the Representation of the People Act. Sections 4 and 5 of the Act lay down that in order to be elected to Parliament or state legislatures, the individual must be an elector.
