MPs, MLAs taking bribe to vote can now be prosecuted
Supreme Court overturns 1998 verdict, paves way for clean politics
New Delhi: MPs and MLAs taking bribes to vote or make a speech in the House are not immune from prosecution, the Supreme Court said on Monday in a landmark, unanimous verdict that overrules its 1998 judgment protecting such lawmakers.
Observing that corruption and bribery of members of the legislature erode the foundation of Indian parliamentary democracy, a seven-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud overruled the apex court’s five-judge bench’s 1998 verdict in the JMM bribery case - involving five party leaders accepting bribes to vote against the no-confidence motion threatening the PV Narasimha Rao government in 1993.
“Bribery is not protected by parliamentary privileges,” the bench, also comprising Justices AS Bopanna, MM Sundresh, PS Narasimha, JB Pardiwala, Sanjay Kumar and Manoj Misra, said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the verdict in a post on X. “SWAGATAM! A great judgment by the Hon’ble Supreme Court which will ensure clean politics and deepen people’s faith in the system,” he said.
