Nepal SC bars murder convicts from contesting elections

Clause 19 e of the ordinance states that anyone sentenced to life imprisonment or life with property confiscation by a final verdict of the court will be disqualified from contesting polls.

Earlier on Monday,a single bench of the apex court had stayed the provision which was inserted by an ordinance in June. The order has come in response to a writ petition filed by a group of lawyers against the disqualification clause.

The Supreme Court said the petitioners did not challenge the ordinance but only Clause 19e implying that they had accepted the ordinance and hence the apex court intervention was not required.

It also stated that the ordinance is consistent with Article 65 1 of the Interim Constitution that states not having been convicted of a criminal offence involving moral turpitude as one of the qualifications for contesting the polls.