Supreme Court Overrules 1998 Judgment, MPs and MLAs Not Immune in Bribery Cases
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has declared that lawmakers do not have immunity from prosecution in bribery cases, setting aside a previous ruling from 1998.
- The Supreme Court's seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud delivered a unanimous verdict against immunity for MPs and MLAs in bribery cases.
- This verdict overturns the 1998 judgment that had upheld immunity for lawmakers in cases of bribery for votes or speeches in the House.
- The court emphasized that bribery is not protected by parliamentary privileges and contradicts Articles 105 and 194 of the Constitution.
- Corruption and bribery by legislators were deemed destructive to the functioning of Indian Parliamentary democracy.
- The ruling clarifies that an MLA taking a bribe to vote in Rajya Sabha elections is also liable under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
NDTV 