Give life ban to convicted MPs, MLAs from contesting polls: EC to SC

TIL Desk/National/New Delhi/ In a significant development, the Election Commission on Wednesday pressed for a life ban on convicted MPs and MLAs from contesting polls. According to reports, the poll panel made this submission before the Supreme Court during a hearing. The Election Commission said it favours barring convicted MLAs, MPs for life.

An apex court bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha slammed poll panel and asked whether it was ‘constrained’ to give its thoughts on the issue.

“Is silence an option for you (ECI)? You must say either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on whether you are supporting the petitioner. You are the ECI and here is a citizen of India who has come here to seek lifetime debarment of convicted persons. Can you say I will be silent? No, you cannot,” the bench had then said.

BJP leader Ashwani Upadhyay had filed a PIL seeking a lifetime ban on MPs, MLAs from contesting elections. The central poll body has earlier faced flak from the Supreme Court for not taking a clear stand on the BJP leader’s appeal seeking to bar convicted politicians for life during a hearing in July.  “If you (ECI) feel constrained by the legislature, then let us know. If you are even constrained to the extent of giving your view, feel free and say so clearly,” it said.