M A I N   N E W S

Bill to amend RP Act soon
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 4
In a significant step aimed at reducing criminalisation of politics the Union Cabinet tonight decided to remove deficiencies in the election laws to debar convicted people from contesting elections during their jail term and six years from release.

The Centre proposes to introduce a Bill to amend the Representation of Peoples (RP) Act in this regard. The Bill, which will also include fresh offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Prevention of Terrorism Act for the purpose, would be introduced in the coming winter session of Parliament.

Briefing newspersons after the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj said the RP Act was being amended as their existed a major anomaly under which a person convicted for more than six years of imprisonment could become eligible under sub-section 1 of Section 8 of the Act to contest poll while serving punishment in jail.