SC to hear plea to debar people charged with serious offences from election

NewDelhi: The Supreme Court today decided to hear the plea demanding political leaders charged with serious offences be debarred from contesting elections. BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay had knocked the doors of the Apex Court seeking that those leaders, against whom charges had been framed under serious offences, should not contest the election. "We will hear the matter," a bench of the Apex Court headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Jagdish Singh Khehar said.

Mr Upadhyay also pleaded the court that a five-judge Constitution bench should hear this serious matter. "The election is very nearer and the plea should be heard before the election, as this is a very very serious matter," Mr Upadhyay told the Apex Court. Seeking an immediate hearing into the matter, Mr Upadhyay claimed in his petition that there were at least 33 per cent leaders in the country who were charged with serious offences. (UNI)