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SC on criminal ministers: No disqualification can be prescribed

by IBNS 27 Aug 2014, 12:48 am

New Delhi, Aug 27 (IBNS): The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to disqualify ministers with criminal cases, leaving the decision to the Prime Minister's wisdom".

“No disqualification can be prescribed,” a Constitution bench of the nation’s five senior most judges said.

"It is expected that the PM will not appoint persons against whom charges have been framed and he is facing trial. The PM and Chief Ministers should decide,” the Constitution bench, headed by the Chief Justice of India RM Lodha, added. It also said that Corruption is the enemy of the nation.

The case dates back to 2004 when a petitioner had sought the removal of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mohammed Taslimuddin, MAA Fatmi and Jai Prakash Yadav from the then Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. The petition was dismissed and later taken up for review by the country’s five senior most judges.