'Anyone in jail or in police custody can contest polls'

The Supreme Court today approved amendment to the Representation of the People's Act and observed any person in jail or in police custody can contest elections.

Updated on: Nov 20, 2013, 02:48:42 IST

Hindustan Times | By Anonymous, New Delhi

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday approved amendment to the Representation of the People's Act and observed any person in jail or in police custody can contest elections, according to reports.

On July 10, the apex court had given a judgement that anybody in police custody or jail will not be able to contest elections.

Upholding a 2004 Patna high court verdict, a bench of justice AK Patnaik and justice SJ Mukopadhyaya had said a person would cease to be an “elector” and cannot vote when in custody (both police and judicial). Such a person would be disqualified from fighting elections as the Representation of the People (RP) Act allows only qualified “elector” to contest, it said.

But the Central govt amended the Representation of the People's Act by doing away with the clause in September 2013.

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