New Delhi: The decision of issuance of ordinance on convicted sitting Members of Parliament and State Legislators has been opposed by left parties on Tuesday and said that this move was undemocratic.
The Union Cabinet had yesterday approved an ordinance to protect convicted MPs and MLAs from facing immediate disqualification, which in effect negates an order of the Supreme Court.
Government decided to bring the Ordinance after failing to get a Bill to this effect passed in Parliament during the recent Monsoon Session.
The CPI(M) Politburo had opposed the ordinance move and said that the UPA government was “repeatedly using the ordinance route which is undemocratic.”
The party said the matter regarding disqualification of elected members who are convicted “should have been discussed in Parliament and appropriate steps taken.”
The CPI Central Secretariat had also opposed the decision to allow convicted MPs and MLAs to continue in office if their appeal is admitted by a higher court within 90 days and the conviction is stayed.
The CPI said through statement, “A bill to this effect had been introduced in the Monsoon Session of the Parliament and it was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.”
“Under the circumstances, the government should not be in a hurry to issue an Ordinance to protect convicted legislators from immediate disqualification as per the judgement of the Supreme Court.”
The party said it considered that “this matter requires discussion within Parliament following its consideration in the Standing Committee.”
Bureau Report
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