SC to hear plea on politicians' qualification, age on March 25

New Delhi, March 15: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it will hear on 25th March a plea seeking a direction that political parties field candidates with graduation as a minimum qualification, and are below the age of 75 years.

 

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi listed the petition filed by lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay for hearing before an appropriate bench. The apex court was hearing a PIL filed by Upadhyay seeking various directions, including setting up of special courts to try criminal cases involving lawmakers.

Upadhyay, in its fresh interim plea, had said imposing a condition during the election to prevent parties from fielding illiterate candidates was a reasonable restriction, keeping in mind the concessions and privileges enjoyed by MLAs, MLCs and MPs.

The plea had said the functions performed by legislators are vital to democracy and there is no reason why they should be held to lower standards than municipal councillors and gram pradhans.