Bill to negate SC verdict gets RS nod

Contending that there was a need to check growing 'criminalisation' in politics, Rajya Sabha today 'unanimously passed' a Bill negating a Supreme Court verdict to allow people in jail to contest polls.

Representation of the People (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2013 provides for a change in the Act of 1951. The amendment to sub-clause 5 of section 62 of the RPA, if passed by Parliament, shall come into effect from July 10, 2013, the day the Supreme Court gave its judgement that those in jail can not contest election.

'The fact is that the political class is the most accountable class in the country. Politicians are accountable to Parliament, to the Election Commission, to the country, to the people, to whom we go every after five years. We are the most accountable set of people in the country,' Law Minister Kapil Sibal said in his reply after a discussion on the Bill.

'It is we who have passed the law to make us accountable. It is us who have decided to disclose our assets. Which other institution has taken such steps to make themselves more accountable,' he said.

Sibal, who was congratulated by all members for bringing the Bill, said the apex court's order might perhaps not have come had the 'environment' been different.

'I dare say, in an another environment, we perhaps would not get such a judgement. The environment is that political class is being looked upon with suspicion,' Sibal said.

After examining the Supreme Court order, Government had filed a review petition, but instead of waiting for the outcome, it felt the need to 'suitably' address the situation.