SC to begin hearing on pleas over disqualification of lawmakers

The Supreme Court would tomorrow commence hearing on the pleas raising the question as to at what stage of a criminal trial a lawmaker would stand disqualified.

A three-judge bench, on March 8, 2016, had referred the matter to a five-judge Constitution bench.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra would commence the hearing on the issue, which has far-reaching political consequences.

While referring the issue to the CJI, the court had said the larger bench would deal with the question, "Can a legislator facing criminal trial be disqualified at conviction or at the framing of charges in the case?"
BJP leader and advocate Ashwani Kumar Updhaya has also filed a plea seeking a direction to the the Centre and others "to bring in electoral reform and to make rules... and Code of Conduct for de-criminalization and de-communalization of politics and for eradication of corruption, casteism and nepotism from electoral system."