High Court seeks Centre's response on barring MPs, MLAs from campaigning

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice V.K. Rao asked the Centre to file its response by March 8 next year.

New Delhi, Nov 23 The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the Centre's response to a plea on prohibiting lawmakers at the Centre and states from participating in election campaigns.

The public interest litigation claimed that members of Parliament and assemblies are "public servants" under the law and hence should be prohibited from participating in poll campaigns, except to the extent of casting their votes.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice V.K. Rao asked the Centre to file its response by March 8 next year.

The plea said elected representatives should not try to gain political mileage by indulging in political activities during their terms in their respective houses.

The plea filed by retired police official Mohan Singh said: "Ministers and sitting members of Parliament and legislative assemblies ... who are public servants within the meaning of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, should be treated as such as other public servants of the government."

It should be presumed that they will only work for the nation and not for any political party during their tenure, the petitioner said.

IANS