Supreme Court Overturns Verdict, Lawmakers No Longer Immune from Prosecution for Bribery
Last Updated on March 4, 2024 by News Desk
The Supreme Court of India has overturned a 1998 verdict that granted immunity to lawmakers from prosecution for taking bribes for speeches and voting in the legislature.
The unanimous verdict was delivered by a seven-member constitution bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.
The Chief Justice stated that “corruption and bribery by members of the legislature erode probity in public life.” The 1998 verdict ruled that MPs and MLAs were immune from prosecution for taking bribes to make speeches and cast votes in the legislature under parliamentary privileges conferred by Articles 105(2) and 194(2) of the Constitution. However, in a 2012 appeal, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Sita Soren claimed immunity under Article 105.
The Jharkhand High Court dismissed the appeal, which was later challenged in the Supreme Court. In October 2023, a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court reserved its verdict.
