SC wants fast-track trials of convicted lawmakers

The Supreme Court on Thursday was in favour of trailing MPs and MLAs who are convicted or chargesheetd on fast track basis.

The apex court is hearing a PIL seeking life time ban on convicted politicians. The PIL, filed by Ashwini Upadhyay (BJP leader), sought action from the Supreme Court on a uniform policy on conflict of interest.​

The court said, It is better if cases against convicted parliamentarians and state MLAs be fast tracked, be finished preferably within 6 months.

In the previous hearing, the apex court had pulled up the Election Commission of India (ECI) for not taking a clear stand on whether lawmakers be barred for life from contesting elections after being convicted in heinous offenses.

It had also sought a direction to the Centre and ECI to fix minimum educational qualification and a maximum age limit for persons contesting elections.

Earlier in July 12, the poll commission took a U-turn on the plea and said it does not want a permanent ban, but it supported the de-criminalisation of politics within a certain framework.

Under the current law, a legislator is debarred for six years from contesting elections once he is convicted for heinous or moral offences. Various pleas have knocked the Supreme Court arguing that the ban should be lifetime at par with the judiciary and executive where a person cannot hold office for life post conviction.

The Centre has opposed the lifetime ban on convicted MPs and MLAs. The Centre has vehemently opposed the suggestion of the EC to bar the legislators, who have been convicted of criminal offences.

OneIndia News