LI Network
Published on: March 05, 2024 at 16:41 IST
Former General Secretary of Lok Sabha, P. D. Thankappan Achary, praised the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that MPs and MLAs can no longer claim immunity from prosecution on charges of bribery related to their votes or speeches in Parliament or Legislative Assembly. This landmark decision overturns a controversial 1998 judgement in the PV Narasimha Rao case.
Achary expressed his satisfaction with the apex court’s decision, stating that it corrects the errors made in 1998. He emphasized that corruption should not be shielded by legislative immunity and hailed the court’s affirmation that corruption is not a privilege.
In a significant move earlier today, a seven-judge Constitution Bench unanimously ruled that bribery by legislators undermines the integrity of Indian democracy. The Bench, led by the Chief Justice, highlighted that bribery is not an essential aspect of parliamentary duties and therefore should not be protected under Article 105 or 194 of the constitution.
The court’s decision to overturn the 1998 judgement in the PV Narasimha Rao case underscores the importance of holding lawmakers accountable for their actions. The Chief Justice emphasized that accepting bribes is a criminal act irrespective of subsequent parliamentary actions such as voting or speaking.
This ruling marks a crucial step towards combating corruption within the legislative system and upholding the principles of transparency and accountability in governance.