SC refuses urgent hearing on banning tainted leaders from polls

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to accord urgent hearing on a plea raising questions whether people facing trial in serious criminal cases can be allowed to contest and at which stage of trial, a lawmaker stands disqualified.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice J.S. Khehar, said they had fixed three matters for disposal by a five-judge Constitution bench during the summer vacation.

The apex court in January said it would soon frame a Constitution bench to decide these issues, adding that it could not give an immediate answer to these questions, since there was a fear of lodging false cases in elections.

In March last year, the apex court referred various PILs to the Chief Justice, saying issues, including the disqualification of a lawmaker facing a criminal trial at conviction stage or at the framing of charge in a case, have to be decided by a larger bench.