New Delhi:
Law Minister Ashwani Kumar today disagreed with a recommendation by the Justice JS Verma-led commission that politicians should be disqualified from contesting elections once cognisance of an offence is taken by the courts.
"Not as a Law Minister, but I personally believe that there should be at least one conviction to debar a politician from contesting elections," Mr Kumar told NDTV.
Among the many changes in laws suggested in tackling sexual offences, the Verma committee had yesterday recommended that disqualification of politicians from contesting elections need not wait for the trial of a case to be over. It should be done the moment a court takes cognisance of the offence.
The Law Minister said the changes made in the laws would be introduced in the Budget Session of Parliament next month.
Mr Kumar said it would be difficult to implement the Verma committee's suggestion that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) be reviewed to bring sexual offences by those in uniform under ordinary criminal law.
"Not as a Law Minister, but I personally believe that there should be at least one conviction to debar a politician from contesting elections," Mr Kumar told NDTV.
Among the many changes in laws suggested in tackling sexual offences, the Verma committee had yesterday recommended that disqualification of politicians from contesting elections need not wait for the trial of a case to be over. It should be done the moment a court takes cognisance of the offence.
The Law Minister said the changes made in the laws would be introduced in the Budget Session of Parliament next month.
Mr Kumar said it would be difficult to implement the Verma committee's suggestion that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) be reviewed to bring sexual offences by those in uniform under ordinary criminal law.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
