Supreme Court dismisses Centre’s plea on jailed persons

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the review petition filed by the Centre against its judgement prohibiting jailed persons from contesting polls.

A bench led by Justice A K Patnaik took note of the amendment carried out in the Representation of the People Act to nullify the effect of its July-verdict whereby those in lawful custody had been restrained from contesting elections.

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The amendment made in September said that a person shall not seize to be an “elector” although he cannot vote because of his being in custody. The amendment was made to have retrospective effect from July 10 when the SC verdict was passed.