SC to consider plea seeking lifetime ban on convicted politicians on Dec 4

The Supreme Court has agreed to consider the petition filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, seeking lifetime ban on politicians from contesting elections on their conviction in criminal cases.

The apex court has decided to hear the matter on December 4.

A bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi said, "We should not forget the main prayer. We will consider it on December 4."

Earlier, Upadhyay had filed a PIL seeking a lifetime ban on convicted and charge-sheeted Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from contesting elections.

As per current rule, if a person is convicted and sentenced for an offence with not less than two years of imprisonment shall be debarred from contesting elections from the date of conviction for a period of six years.

Last year, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had said it did not want a permanent ban, but it supported the de-criminalisation of politics within a certain framework.

Various pleas have knocked the doors of the apex court arguing that the ban should be lifetime at par with the judiciary and executive where a person cannot hold office for life post-conviction.