Supreme Court refuses to hear Centre's plea over convicted politicians

New Delhi, Sept 4: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain the Centre's plea to review its decision to disqualify convicted politicians from serving as parliamentarians.

However, the apex Court judges have agreed to reassess another part of the judgment which banned an arrested politician from running for office, and said that the present law is extremely 'clumsily drafted'.

The judges of the Supreme Court said that the government had "no case" in its appeal against the verdict, which was delivered in July this year.

The verdict of the Supreme Court cancels the present law which permits convicted lawmakers to continue in office if an appeal, filed within three months of conviction, is pending in a higher court.

The judges said, "When a candidate is in jail, it is okay for him to contest. But when a voter is in jail, he can't vote. What kind of law is this? It is a very clumsily drafted law."

The apex Court judges have agreed to reassess another part of the judgment.

Earlier, political parties had argued that this would encourage leaders being jailed by those in power as part of vengeful tactic, so as to prevent them from contesting polls.

A Bill, in this regard, has been passed in the Rajya Sabha, it is still pending in the Lok Sabha.

OneIndia News

(With Agency inputs)