Jaitley welcomes SC decision to expedite trial of MPs and MLAs

SC directed all proceedings in case of corruption and serious crime against elected representatives must be completed in a year

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley on Tuesday, welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to expedite the trial of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) against whom cases of serious offences are pending.

"I think the Supreme Court has struck a balance. Merely on the framing of a charge, there is no presumption of guilt. Therefore, a person cannot be prevented from contesting elections. At the same time, nobody has a right to delay a trial, and therefore, that being the position, they have started out a middle course that the trial must be completed on a day-to-day basis, preferably within a period of one year." Jaitley said.

After ordering the disqualification of MPs and MLAs immediately after conviction for heinous offences, the Supreme Court on Monday took a second big step towards cleansing the political process by directing that trial proceedings in cases of corruption and serious crimes against elected representatives must be completed within a year.