SC notice on barring people in jail from fighting polls

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the central government on a public interest litigation that has sought to bar people in jail from contesting polls.

The apex court bench of Justice HL Dattu and Justice SA Bobde issued the notice following the PIL challenging the amendment to the Representation of the People Act. The notice is returnable in four weeks. The Supreme Court July 10, 2013, held that if a person in jail is not entitled to vote even if his name is in the voters list, then he is also not entitled to contest election. This verdict was overturned by Parliament Sep 6, 2013, by amending the Representation of the People Act, allowing those jailed to contest elections.