Left opposes ordinance on disqualification of legislators

Left parties today opposed the government's decision to issue an ordinance on convicted sitting Members of Parliament and State Legislators, saying the move was undemocratic.
Opposing the ordinance move, the CPI(M) Politburo said the UPA government was "repeatedly using the ordinance route which is undemocratic."
The party said the matter regarding disqualification of elected members who are convicted "should have been discussed in Parliament and appropriate steps taken."
In a statement, the CPI Central Secretariat too opposed the decision to allow convicted MPs and MLAs to continue in office if their appeal is admitted by a higher court within 90 days and the conviction is stayed.

"A bill to this effect had been introduced in the Monsoon Session of the Parliament and it was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
"Under the circumstances, the government should not be in a hurry to issue an Ordinance to protect convicted legislators from immediate disqualification as per the judgement of the Supreme Court," the CPI statement said.

The party said it considered that "this matter requires discussion within Parliament following its consideration in the Standing Committee."
The Union Cabinet had yesterday approved an ordinance to protect convicted MPs and MLAs from facing immediate disqualification, which in effect negates an order of the Supreme Court.

Government decided to bring the Ordinance after failing to get a Bill to this effect passed in Parliament during the recent Monsoon Session.