Poll ban: SC seeks Centre’s response

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 24

The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to respond in a week to a petition seeking a lifetime ban on convicted politicians from holding party posts or contesting elections.

Under the current election law, a convicted politician immediately loses his/her seat in parliament or state assembly/legislative council and becomes ineligible to contest elections for six years from the date of completion of the sentence.

A Bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked the Centre to file its affidavit in a week and fixed April 18 for hearing.

Earlier this week, the Election Commission had supported the idea of debarring convicted politicians from forming political outfits and becoming any party’s office-bearer, saying it would help clean up the political system.