New Delhi: Convicted lawmakers cannot be debarred from contesting elections for life, the Centre told the Supreme Court yesterday in response to a petition that sought convicted legislators to be treated on par with convicted bureaucrats, who are debarred for life from Government service.
Making a distinction between bureaucrats and Members of Parliament (MPs) or State Legislatures (MLAs) who are convicted of serious offences under the Indian Penal Code or other special laws, an affidavit filed by the Ministry of Law and Justice said that while public servants were governed by “service conditions,” such conditions do not exist for lawmakers.
