'Swagatam': PM Modi Lauds SC's 'Great Judgment' Ending Immunity To MPs, MLAs In Bribery Cases

On Monday, a seven-judge constitution panel overturned an earlier verdict that protected MPs and MLAs from prosecution in situations involving bribes for speeches or votes.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Source : PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in the JMM MPs bribery case as a "great judgment". On Monday, a seven-judge constitution panel overturned an earlier verdict that protected MPs and MLAs from prosecution in situations involving bribes for speeches or votes.

Taking to X, PM Modi stated: "SWAGATAM! A great judgment by the Hon’ble Supreme Court which will ensure clean politics and deepen people’s faith in the system."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets "A great judgment by the Supreme Court which will ensure clean politics and deepen people’s faith in the system." pic.twitter.com/IvuXnnqHaC

— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2024

Ther verdict was pronounced by a bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justices AS Bopanna, MM Sundresh, PS Narasimha, JB Pardiwala, Sanjay Kumar and Manoj Misra. 

The Supreme Court on Monday stated that the Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are not immune from prosecution for accepting payments to give a speech or vote in the legislature. The court ruled that bribery is not protected by parliamentary privileges. The court also ruled that MLAs who accept payments to vote in Rajya Sabha elections can be punished under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). 

A seven-judge panel unanimously overturned a prior Supreme Court decision made by a five-judge panel in the PV Narasimha Rao case. The court determined that the previous judgment in the PV Narasimha Rao case creates a contradictory scenario where a lawmaker who accepts a bribe and votes as per the bribe is shielded, whereas a lawmaker who, despite accepting a bribe, votes independently is subject to prosecution.