Govt to appeal against apex court verdicts on politicians

Our Bureau Updated - March 12, 2018 at 06:33 PM.

Anti-Telangana Samaikyandhra JAC activists in Nellore protesting against the demand for division of Andhra Pradesh. — K. Ravikumar

The Government may soon file a review petition against the Supreme Court verdicts on Wednesday and Friday that disqualified politicians with criminal cases from fighting elections.

A meeting of the Congress core group is learnt to have discussed the issue, and has asked the Centre to seek legal remedy.

Earlier, the Congress had welcomed the verdict.

The change of mind came reportedly after criticism of the verdict by the State units of the parties and from Opposition parties such as the CPI(M).

The CPI(M) had termed the judgment drastic and said it was an example of judicial overreach, which would infringe on the democratic rights of citizens.

“A person who is an under-trial, who is not convicted of any offence, or a person who is in police custody without having faced a trial and conviction will be deprived of the right to contest elections,” the party had said urging the Centre to seek clarifications from the court by a review.

The Congress core group also heard the views of leaders from Andhra Pradesh on the formation of Telangana.

Telangana issue

Senior leaders Digvijaya Singh and Ghulam Nabi Azad were present at the meeting on Telangana.

The party leadership decided to convene a meeting of the Congress Working Committee on the issue.

The issue will also be discussed by the UPA co-ordination panel.

Congress sources said the leadership did not want to delay a decision on Telangana any further.

jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in

Published on July 12, 2013 15:32