SC notices centre, states on tainted ministers
New Delhi, Jul 10: The Supreme Court today directed the Union Government and all the states to file an affidavit making their stand clear on the issue of inclusion of legislators with criminal records in the Union and State Cabinets as ministers.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Mr Justice C K Thakker and Mr Justice P K Balasubramanyan issued the directions during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by Manoj Narula challenging the inclusion of tainted ministers in the Union Cabinet as well as State Cabinets.
The petitioner has prayed for dropping of tainted ministers like Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Coal Minister Shibu Soren, Company Affairs Minister Prem Chand Gupta , Minister of State for Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Mohammed Taslimudin and Minister of State for Human Resource Development Mohammed Ali Ashraf Fatmi.
The states of West Bengal, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh , Gujarat, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram and Pondicherry have already been served Notices.
Regarding other states, the Court directed to serve notices to the Standing Counsel of the respective states.
The Court has also directed to list the matter for hearing in August.
The Apex Court further directed the Centre and the states to take a categorical stand on the issue of ''tainted'' ministers.
UNI


Click it and Unblock the Notifications