No Disqualifying Contestant Over Framing Of Charges Yet

New Delhi, May 3 (UNI) The government has taken no decision on a Parliamentary panel's recommendation against disqualifying from contesting election anyone against whom charges have been framed by a competent court for serious criminal offences.

''The government has not taken any decision on the recommendations... so far,'' Law and Justice Minister Hans Raj Bhardwaj was stated today to have told Parliament.

The Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice was requested to give its recommendations on the proposal which came from the Election Commission.

The subject of electoral reforms is presently under consideration of the Committee, which gave its findings on the issue six weeks ago-- March 15.

''The Committee is constrained to disagree'' as ''the proposal is a major departure from the law for the time being in force, which provides that if a person is convicted for an offence and the court gives a judgement convicting him, then such a person should be disqualified for contesting elections.

''However, the Committee has recommended that proclaimed absconders under section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code be disqualified from contesting polls,'' Mr Bhardwaj said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

''The government has not taken any decision on the recommendations of the Committee so far,'' he said.

UNI