Activists welcome Supreme Court move scrapping legal shield for convicted MPs and MLAs

Activists and voluntary group Associations have welcomed the Supreme Court's today's verdict striking down as ultra vires a provision of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) which protects convicted lawmakers against disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal against their conviction in the higher courts.

But Activists strongly condemned the proposed move of bringing an ordinance to overturn the recent decision Central Information Commissions (CIC's) to bring the political parties under the ambit of RTI Act.

"The CIC had passed landmark judgement holding six major political parties of the country answerable to citizens under the RTI Act and access information about their doings. But by bringing the proposed ordinance , it seems all political parties including opposition have joined hands to resist opening themselves to the public scrutiny "said angry Mr Yatinder Pal Singh Suri, President, IIT Kharagpur Alumni Association, North India chapter.

"People have been demanding complete transparency in the financial and internal functioning of political parties . Various commissions including Law Commission report, Election Commission and NCRCW have already recommended that political parties should demonstrate transparency through various measures. But political parties are not leaving any stone unturned to stop the CIC decision" said Mr Suri.

"The government's move to bring in Ordinance show's it does not want to wait for the parliament even or does not want a debate. The Main opposition parties have not said a word against the government move. The justification being given for the bringing the ordinance that existing RPA Act and Income Tax act provide "adequate transparency in respect of financial aspects of political parties. Does not stand ground" said Mr Vijay Saluja, an IIT Delhi alumni and winner and director of Giraffe heroes India.

"We will be forced to come on roads, if government and political parties try to scuttle the CIC order and if they do not sincerely embrace the today's Supreme court vedict" said Mr Saluja.

Source : Equity Bulls

Keywords