CPI welcomes SC's judgement on RPA

Communist Party of India (CPI) today said Supreme Court's judgement on disqualifying lawmakers convicted by a court for two years or more will help in cleansing Parliament and state assemblies from convicted criminals.
"This well intentioned move will help to cleanse the Parliament and state assemblies from convicted criminals who manage to prolong their membership during pendency of appeals in higher court," the party said in a statement.
Yesterday, Supreme Court had struck down as ultra vires a provision of the Representation of the People Act which protects convicted lawmakers against disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal against their conviction in higher courts.

CPI also said that some caution has to be taken in the matter as there are cases where some people have been punished under criminal proceedings for participating in agitations on people's issues and the conviction may exceed two years.