Cabinet clears ordinance to protect convicted MPs, MLAs

New Delhi, Sept 24: The Union cabinet on Tuesday cleared an ordinance related to the convicted MPs and MLAs. Now, the ordinance has cleared the hurdle that prohibited jailed lawmakers for contesting elections and for continuing in office, if the appeal against the conviction is admitted by a higher court within 90 days.

The government had recently introduced the Representation of the People (Second Amendment) Bill, 2013 in Rajya Sabha to overturn the Supreme Court judgement. However, the bill was not passed by the Parliament.

The ordinance, that has been referred to the standing committee, is the opposite of the Supreme Court verdict that disqualified lawmakers convicted in offences with 2 years in jail or more.

In its July 10 verdict, the Supreme Court had 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.

OneIndia News

(With agency inputs)