There is no relief for convicted lawmakers as the Rajya Sabha failed to pass the Representation of the People (Second Amendment) Bill of 2013 on Saturday.
Lawmakers convicted in criminal cases with imprisonment of two years or more now face the prospect of immediate disqualification. Parliament failed to pass a law to negate the Supreme Court verdict in this regard.
The bill states that a convicted MP or MLA won’t be disqualified if an appeal is filed within 90 days and the court stays the conviction and the sentence. The bill negates another SC order of July 10 which held that those in jail cannot vote as per the RP Act and hence cannot qualify for contesting elections to Parliament or state legislatures.
Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said the BJP insisted that it be referred to the parliamentary standing committee on law.