Delhi HC seeks Centre's response on plea to bar MPs from poll campaigns

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre for a response on a plea that sitting Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies should not participate in poll campaigns for their parties.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and JMPustice V K Rao said that the issue needs consideration and, therefore, the government should file a counter affidavit with regard to the averments made in the petition.

The bench fixed March 8, 2017, for further hearing on the issue.

The petition has contended that ministers, MPs and MLAs are public servants and under the law, public servants are prohibited from participating in elections except to the extent of casting their vote.

Petitioner Mohan Singh Sharma, a retired sub-inspector, has said that after MPs and MLAs take oath, "it should be presumed that they will only work for the nation and not for any political party during their tenure".