SC DISMISSES PIL SEEKING TO PROHIBIT MP’S AND MLA’S FROM PRACTISING LAW
The Supreme Court, on September 6th, has dismissed a petition which was filed by a retired army officer from Haryana who strived for the Court to issue guidelines to forbid lawmakers from taking up any other profession till the time they resign from their office.
The petition was about the prohibition of MP’s and MLA’s from practising in the courts of law. The petition was for declaring the ministers as solely public servants and not lawyers.
The PIL was for seeking of the ministers not to practise in any of the courts of law, till the time they actually resign from their office. The Supreme Court bench was headed by the Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Ashok Bhushan.
“Why should be MP’s be prohibited from practise? You don’t want MP’s to practise in the court as they are the public servants…,” Chief Justice of India said and discarded the PIL.
The PIL was filed by the retired army officer, Anil Kabotra.
According to the petition, MPs and MLAs are the public servants for the country under the law. Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 2(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) were cited.
According to the petitioner, most of the MPs and MLAs are too busy with their business-related work or any other professions that they are involved in and so they are unable to become a part of the house debates. There is also a lack of responsibility and disinterest in dispensing their noble constitutional obligation by several MPs, believes the petitioner.
The CJI found the petition irrelevant and discarded it, on the basis of MPs and MLAs not being justice public servants. They have the full freedom to practise in the courts of law in the country.
By-
NANDINI SHARMA
STUDENT REPORTER