SC's landmark verdict in bribes-for-vote case
In a momentous decision, the supreme court overturned the high court's 1998 ruling in the PV narasimha Rao case on Monday, ruling that politicians might data-face criminal charges for accepting bribes in exchange for giving speeches and casting votes in the legislature. A seven-member Constitution panel led by indian Chief Justice DY Chandrachud delivered the unanimous decision.
The following are Chief Justice Chandrachud's top five quotations:
1. "Corruption and bribery by members of the legislature erode probity in public life."
2. "The judgement of the majority in the PV narasimha Rao case, which grants immunity to lawmakers, has a grave danger and thus, overruled."
3. "The offence of a bribe is crystallised on the taking of illegal gratification and does not depend on if the vote or speech is given later, and the offence is complete when the legislator accepts a bribe."
1. "Corruption and bribery by members of the legislature erode probity in public life."
2. "The judgement of the majority in the PV narasimha Rao case, which grants immunity to lawmakers, has a grave danger and thus, overruled."
3. "The offence of a bribe is crystallised on the taking of illegal gratification and does not depend on if the vote or speech is given later, and the offence is complete when the legislator accepts a bribe."
Overturning the 1998 ruling of the highest court in the PV narasimha Rao case, a seven-judge bench of the supreme court ruled that legislators, including MPs and MLAs, are subject to prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act if they receive financial benefits for their votes and speeches in parliament or assemblies.
Chief Justice of india DY Chandrachud led a seven-judge constitution bench that unanimously overturned the 1998 ruling of a five-judge panel in the JMM bribery case, which had protected MPs and MLAs from prosecution if they accepted bribes in exchange for speaking or voting in the legislature.