2-seat candidate ban PIL: SC asks AG to assist

New Delhi, December 11

The Supreme Court on Monday sought Attorney General KK Venugopal’s assistance to decide a PIL that demanded a ban on the practice of candidates simultaneously contesting from two constituencies in Lok Sabha/Assembly elections.

The PIL by advocate Ashvani Upadhyay demanded that Section 33(7) of the Representation of People Act be declared unconstitutional.  “‘One person, one vote’ and ‘one candidate, one constituency’ is the dictum of democracy. However, as per the law, as it stands today, a person can contest the election for the same office from two constituencies simultaneously,” reads the PIL.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra asked Venugopal to assist it after the Election Commission submitted it had twice sent a proposal to the Centre to amend the election law to ban the practice.

EC counsel Amit Sharma said public money was spent in holding byelections if the candidate won both seats and resigned from one. — TNS