Imprisoned MPs, MLAs can vote in presidential election: SC

Paving the way for the imprisoned Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to cast vote in the July 19 presidential poll, the Supreme Court today said that they could not be barred from voting as their entire constituency would go unrepresented.

New Delhi, July 18 : Paving the way for the imprisoned Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to cast vote in the July 19 presidential poll, the Supreme Court today said that they could not be barred from voting as their entire constituency would go unrepresented.

An apex bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said that the imprisoned MPs and MLAs would vote as peoples' representative, as they were part of the Electoral College, which elects the President.

The court refused to give direction on advocate Z K Faizan's petition seeking to bar imprisoned MPs and MLAs from casting their vote in the presidential and vice presidential polls.

However, the Bench did not dismiss the petition.

The court also permitted controversial Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Shahabuddin to cast his vote in the presidential polls since he was unable to get permission from the Patna High Court as its various benches declined to hear him.

Shahabuddin would be taken from the district jail of Siwan to Bihar Assembly in Patna in custody parole with sufficient police escort to cast his vote.

On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court had permitted another RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, presently lodged in Tihar Jail, to cast his vote.

ANI