Almost all political parties were seen on the same page on Tuesday in supporting the government’s efforts to amend the Representation of the People Act to undo the recent Supreme Court ruling that barred anyone from contesting elections if they are in police or judicial custody.
Political parties of all hues also agreed to support the government’s move to bring an amendment to the Constitution to negate the impact of the Supreme Court verdict directing immediate disqualification of MPs and MLAs once they are sentenced to two years or longer in jail in a criminal case.
In a bid to mobilise support, the government convened an all-party meeting on Tuesday where two other issues were also discussed. The proposed Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, that seeks to replace the collegium system, the Supreme Court order on quotas in the AIIMS faculty and the Patna high court order barring a candidate arrested even for a day from contesting were the other issues.
Parties suggested that the Judicial Appoint-ments Bill be referred to a parliamentary standing committee.