Today, On 29th April, The Supreme Court rejected ex-IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt’s plea for bail and suspension of his life sentence but directed speedy hearing of his appeal pending before the top court.
![[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.