NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will commence hearing today on the pleas raising the question as to at what stage of a criminal trial a lawmaker would stand disqualified. A three-judge bench, on March 8, 2016, had referred the matter to a five-judge Constitution bench.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices R F Nariman, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra will commence the hearing on the issue, which has far-reaching political consequences. The Court had, then said, the larger bench would deal with the question regarding whether a legislator facing criminal trial can be disqualified at conviction or when the charges are framed in the case.
Earlier, the apex court had set a deadline of one year for lower courts to complete the trial in criminal cases involving sitting MPs and MLAs. It had also said that all such proceedings involving lawmakers must be conducted on a day-to-day basis.
APP