New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Election Commission for its flip flop with regard to lifetime ban for convicted lawmakers to contest elections, which was initially supported by the EC, but on Wednesday EC’s counsel said such a proposal fell within the domain of the Legislature.
A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha was hearing a PIL, filed by advocate and BJP spokesperson Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay for a direction to the Centre and the EC to take necessary steps to debar persons convicted in criminal cases from contesting elections, forming a political party and becoming office-bearers of any party.
Mr Upadhyay referred to the counter affidavit filed by the EC supporting such a lifetime ban. Referring to the Centre’s stand he said the Centre was opposed to the proposal as according to it only the government could bring about any change in the Representation of the People Act on disqualification.
However, counsel for the Commission said it supported the petitioner to the extent that there should be de-criminalisation of politics and a mechanism should be put in place.
