Full text: SC order disqualifying convicted MPs, MLAs from office

In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court on Wednesday has struck down a section of Representation of the People Act that allows a convicted lawmaker to remain in office while there are still cases pending against them. [caption id=“attachment_945823” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Reuters[/caption] “The only question is about the vires of section 8(4) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) and we hold that it is ultra vires and that the disqualification takes place from the date of conviction,” a bench of justices AK Patnaik and S J Mukhopadhaya said. In effect, what the Supreme Court order says is that the disqualification of an MP or MLA will come into effect immediately after the representative is convicted by any court. Here is the full text of the judgement: