Supreme Court Discards Its Own Judgement
In a landmark judgment, a seven-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court has overturned a 25-year-old precedent, ruling that MPs and MLAs cannot claim immunity from prosecution in cases of bribery for votes or speeches in the House. Seven Judge SC Bench: Copyright Web Corruption And Bribery Of MPs And MLAs Erode Foundation Of Indian Parliamentary Democracy: Supreme Court The SC also held that both the court and Parliament can exercise jurisdiction on the actions of lawmakers in parallel. This is because the purpose of punishment by the House is different from the purpose of a criminal trial. Clean Politics Many countries provide some form of legislative immunity to protect lawmakers in the course of their duties, promoting open and uninhibited debate. Examples include the United States, where members of Congress have immunity for statements made in their official capacity. However, this immunity usually doesn't extend to criminal activities like bribery. In Indi...