SC landmark judgement: Convicted MPs, MLAs must go

FP: Arun George :27 mins ago:10 June 2013 

15:55 pm: 78 MPs in Lok Sabha had serious criminal cases pending against them

Some interesting data from myneta.info reveals that there were 78 MPs who contested in the 2009 elections who had serious criminal cases pending against them.

Prominent among them is Kameshwar Baitha from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha who had 46 criminal cases against him.

15: 50 pm: Prominent MPs and MLAs facing possible disqualification

Prominent elected representatives who are face disqualification include:

Former CM OP Chaulata
Former Gujarat minister Maya Kodnani
Former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren
Madhu Koda, Former CM, Jharkhand convicted of money laundering

15:45 pm: BJP welcomes verdict

BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad was the first off the blocks and has welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict.

Reuters

15: 30 pm: Former CEC welcomes decision

Former Chief Election Commissioner SY Qureishi has welcomed the verdict saying that it is a landmark verdict.

15:00 pm: SC says MPs or MLAs convicted cannot contest elections

In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court has said that MPs and MLAs who are convicted by a trial court in any criminal case face instant disqualification.

While this will not be applied retrospectively to MPs and MLAs who have appealed against convictions, the apex court said that this will mean that MPs and MLAs   contesting elections in the future will be disqualified the day they’re convicted by a court.

In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court has said that MPs and MLAs who are convicted by a trial court in any criminal case face instant disqualification.

While this will not be applied retrospectively to MPs and MLAs who have appealed against convictions, the apex court said that this will mean that MPs and MLAs contesting elections in the future will be disqualified the day they’re convicted by a court.

The Supreme Court of India. Reuters

The judgement was welcomed by members across 

political parties and government institutions. 

Here are some reactions:

Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP):We welcome the Supreme Court’s verdict.

SY qureshi (Former CEC):This is a landmark judgement by the Supreme Court. This will lead to a lot of transparency. This SC verdict gives us something to look forward to.

D Raja (CPI): The SC judgement on convicted politicians is historic, will have far reaching implications.

Sushilkumar Shinde: Don’t know what the judgment is. We will analyse the judgment and then only comment.