New Delhi:
The Supreme Court's landmark rulings barring jailed politicians from contesting polls and convicted lawmakers from staying on in office may face legal challenges.
The Election Commission today said there are grey areas in the judgement which need to be addressed, and the government says it will consult all political parties on it.
"There are apprehensions of misuse. The Election Commission will meet next week to address these issues and ensure a level playing field for all," the poll panel's legal advisor SK Mendiratta told NDTV.
The UPA government is also studying both rulings. Union Law minister Kapil Sibal said: "We are scrutinizing the decisions. Once we read the decisions carefully and discuss with other parties, we will comment."
The government must challenge the decisions, says the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), joining the political chorus questioning the top court's rulings.
"In our country, you have many people in jails not because they are criminals, but because they may have led people's struggles, political causes," CPI-M leader Prakash Karat told NDTV. "The judgement is liable to big misuse. Anyone can throw their rivals in jail."
Upholding a Patna High Court decision of 2004, the Supreme Court had said that a jailed politician can't contest even if there's no conviction or chargesheet.
"Vendetta politics and rivals being jailed on frivolous and trumped up charges in not uncommon," said Union Minister Manish Tewari.
Biju Janata Dal's Pinaki Misra pointed out: "You can be arrested and kept in custody for 60 to 90 days."
Political parties are also worried about the possible misuse of the court's verdict disqualifying convicted MPs from staying in office. Even the government's affidavit in court had argued against disqualifying convicted lawmakers.
The Election Commission today said there are grey areas in the judgement which need to be addressed, and the government says it will consult all political parties on it.
"There are apprehensions of misuse. The Election Commission will meet next week to address these issues and ensure a level playing field for all," the poll panel's legal advisor SK Mendiratta told NDTV.
The UPA government is also studying both rulings. Union Law minister Kapil Sibal said: "We are scrutinizing the decisions. Once we read the decisions carefully and discuss with other parties, we will comment."
The government must challenge the decisions, says the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), joining the political chorus questioning the top court's rulings.
"In our country, you have many people in jails not because they are criminals, but because they may have led people's struggles, political causes," CPI-M leader Prakash Karat told NDTV. "The judgement is liable to big misuse. Anyone can throw their rivals in jail."
Upholding a Patna High Court decision of 2004, the Supreme Court had said that a jailed politician can't contest even if there's no conviction or chargesheet.
"Vendetta politics and rivals being jailed on frivolous and trumped up charges in not uncommon," said Union Minister Manish Tewari.
Biju Janata Dal's Pinaki Misra pointed out: "You can be arrested and kept in custody for 60 to 90 days."
Political parties are also worried about the possible misuse of the court's verdict disqualifying convicted MPs from staying in office. Even the government's affidavit in court had argued against disqualifying convicted lawmakers.
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