Govt opposes lifetime ban on convicted politicians: 'Solely within domain of Parliament'

'Solely within the domain of the parliament'

"The question whether a life-time ban would be appropriate or not is a question that is solely within the domain of the parliament," the affidavit said. By confining the operation of penalty to an appropriate length of time, deterrence was ensured while undue harshness was avoided, it added.

There was, said the Centre, nothing inherently unconstitutional in limiting the effect of penalties by time and it was a settled principle of law that penalties were limited either by time or by quantum. "It is submitted that issues raised by the petitioner have wide ranging ramifications and clearly fall within the legislative policy of Parliament and the contours of judicial review would be suitably altered in such regard," the affidavit said.

The petition in the Supreme Court, filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, seeks a lifetime ban on convicted politicians and the swift resolution of criminal cases against MPs and MLAs across the country.

 'It would not be appropriate to substitute petitioner's understanding'

In its affidavit, the Centre emphasised that the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that legislative decisions cannot be challenged in court based on their effectiveness. It pointed out that under Section 8(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, disqualification lasts for six years from the date of conviction or, in cases involving imprisonment, six years from the date of release.

"The disqualifications made under the impugned sections are limited by time as a matter of parliamentary policy and it would not be appropriate to substitute the petitioner's understanding of the issue and impose a lifetime ban," it said.

The Centre said as a matter of judicial review, the court could declare the provisions to be unconstitutional, however, the relief sought by the petitioner effectively sought to read "life-long" instead of "six years" in all sub-sections of Section 8 of the Act.

It said lifetime disqualification was the maximum that could be imposed under the provisions and such a discretion was "certainly within the power of Parliament". "However, it is one thing to say that a power exists and another to say that it must necessarily be exercised in every case," the Centre argued.

The affidavit said the impugned laws were "constitutionally sound" and "did not suffer from the vice of excess delegation" aside from being intra vires the powers of Parliament.

While imposing any penalty, it said, Parliament considers the principles of proportionality and reasonability as for instance, the entirety of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, or penal law provide for imprisonment or fines up to certain limits and the rationale behind it was that the punitive measures would co-relate with the gravity of offence.

There were numerous penal laws that prescribe imposing restrictions on the exercise of rights and freedoms, which in most cases are time-specific, it said.

The Centre said the petition failed to make the crucial distinction between basis of disqualification and effects of disqualification.

"It is true that the basis of disqualification is conviction for an offence and that this basis remains unchanged so long as the conviction stands. The effect of such conviction lasts for a fixed period of time. As stated above, there is nothing inherently unconstitutional in limiting the effect of penalties by time," it said.

The affidavit said the petitioner's reliance on Articles 102 and 191 of the Constitution was totally misplaced.

Articles 102 and 191 of the Constitution deals with disqualifications

Articles 102 and 191 of the Constitution deals with disqualifications for membership of either house of parliament, legislative assembly or legislative council.

The Centre said Clause (e) of Articles 102 and 191 were enabling provisions that confer on Parliament the power to make laws governing disqualification and it was in exercise of this power that the 1951 Act was enacted. "The Constitution has left the field open to Parliament to enact such further law governing disqualifications as it deems fit.

Parliament has power both to determine the grounds for disqualification and the duration of disqualification," it said.

The Centre said the grounds for disqualification in the articles included holding of an office of profit, unsoundness of mind, insolvency and not being a citizen of India. "It is submitted that these are not permanent disqualifications," it added.

The apex court on February 10 sought responses of the Centre and the Election Commission on the challenge to constitutional validity of Sections 8 and 9 of Representation of People Act.

(With PTI inputs)