SC no to early hearing on tainted netas contesting polls

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to accept a plea for urgent hearing on a PIL contending people facing trial in serious crime cases can be allowed to contest.

A bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud said, “We have already fixed three matters for disposal by a five-judge Constitution bench in summer vacation.”

Petitioner-advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay sought directions to set up a five-judge bench and disposal of the matter in the summer vacation.

“It is a very important issue for democracy in our country. I was assured by the court that a bench would be set up,” he said, adding that it will not take more than three days in concluding the hearing.

“You cannot imagine how much time and efforts are needed in writing judgements,” the bench said, while making it clear that setting up of a Constitution bench to decide the issue is not possible in the near future.

The apex court had on January 5 said it will soon constitute a Constitution bench to decide these issues if framing of charges was sufficient stage to debar a candidate from contesting polls.

On March 8 last year a three-judge bench has referred various PILs including the one filed by Upadhyay to the Chief Justice of India.