Parliament passes bill to allow those in jail to contest polls

New Delhi: Negating a Supreme Court order, Parliament today passed a bill that maintains the right of those in jail to contest polls, with the government saying the court verdict was wrong and the Legislature has Constitutional duty to correct it. The Representation of the People (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2013 was rushed through in the Lok Sabha and passed within about 15 minutes after a brief discussion. [caption id=“attachment_1091183” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. PTI[/caption] Some members wanted an elaborate debate on the bill but the overwhelming majority of the House, including Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, pushed for its passage even without discussion. The Bill negates the 10 July order of the Supreme Court which held that those in jail cannot vote as per RP Act and hence cannot qualify for contesting elections to Parliament or state legislatures. The Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha on 27 August. Moving the bill for consideration and passage, Law Minister Kapil Sibal said, “The Supreme Court is right because it is final, it is not right because it is right.” Talking about the apprehensions caused by the apex court verdict, he said, “If an SHO decides to detain you on the eve of elections, then you cannot file nominations.” He said, “It is our constitutional duty to correct it (the verdict).” Sibal’s views were on the lines of some of the members, including Kirti Azad (BJP) and Dara Singh Chouhan (BSP). The Amendment Bill seeks to add a proviso to sub-section (2) of section 62 of the RP Act to state that a person cannot cease to be a voter while in detention as his or her right is only temporarily suspended. One of the amendments states that as the name of the jailed person continues to be on the electoral rolls, he or she also continues to be an elector and can file nomination for an election. “Provided further that by reason of the prohibition to vote under this sub-section, a person whose name has been entered in the electoral roll shall not cease to be an elector,” the proviso reads. The amendment shall come into effect from 10 July, 2013, the day the Supreme Court gave the judgement. After examining the Supreme Court order, government had filed a review petition, but instead of waiting for the outcome, it felt the need to “suitably” address the situation, the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill states. The apex court had on Wednesday agreed to review the judgement. In its verdict the apex court had ruled that only an “elector” can contest the polls and he/she ceases the right to cast vote due to confinement in prison or being in custody of police. The court had, however, made it clear that disqualification would not be applicable to persons subjected to preventive detention under any law. PTI