Today, On 14th October, Sharjeel Imam has withdrawn his interim bail plea to contest the Bihar elections, stating that his regular bail plea is still pending before the Supreme Court. Advocate Ahmad Ibrahim emphasized that the apex court was the proper forum for the application.
NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi has given the Delhi Police 60 more days to complete their investigation in the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) case against former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan. The police had requested 90 days, but the court only approved a 60-day extension.
![[Poll Battles] Can Politicians in Jail Contest Elections?| Eligibility to Participate but Not Vote](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image-7-5.png?resize=447%2C367&ssl=1)
In India, jailed politicians can run for office but lose their right to vote. Amritpal Singh, a jailed Khalistani separatist, is contesting the Khadoor Sahib parliamentary constituency election. The Representation of the People Act disqualifies convicts, not undertrials, from elections. Several politicians, including Rahul Gandhi, have run for office while incarcerated. The Supreme Court is considering expediting trials of criminal cases against lawmakers. Over 4,900 cases are pending against Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly/Council, with nearly 1,900 of these cases being over five years old.
Today(on 19th April), the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal on Lok Sabha nomination paper rejection, cautioning against court interference to avoid potential chaos. The petitioner was advised to pursue legal remedies instead. The case highlighted concerns over arbitrary rejection of nomination papers, advocating for a fairer electoral process. The Banka constituency will vote on April 26th. Follow for more legal updates.
