With the Election Commission going ahead implementing the Supreme Court judgement on disqualification of convicted MlAs and MPs, while the Government is working on seeking a review it is also trying to bring parties on board for a constitutional amendment.
Sources said besides the review option, the Government mulling over bringing a constitutional amendment bill provided it got the support of the political parties. With unanimity among political parties against the SC verdict, Government is hopeful it could get their support. It is however cautious on the issue since it concerns amending the Constitution.
In its July 10 verdict, the apex court had struck down a provision in the electoral law that protects a convicted lawmaker from disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal in higher courts. It had also made it clear that MPs, MlAs and MlCs would stand disqualified on the date of conviction. “We also hold that the provisions of Article 101(3)(a) and 190(3)(a) of the Constitution expressly prohibit Parliament to defer the date from which the disqualification will come into effect in case of a sitting member of Parliament or a State legislature.
“Parliament, therefore, has exceeded its powers conferred by the Constitution in enacting sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the (RP) Act and accordingly sub-section (4) of Section 8 of the Act is ultra vires to the Constitution,” it had said.The Constitutional Amendment Bill is likely to deal with this part of the judgement. “Talks with various political parties are on...Whatever decision is taken will be based on consensus,” law Minister Kapil Sibal had said recently on the issue. He had made it clear that the government may approach the apex court for a review of its order and also go for a “legislative remedy” by amending the current laws.