PM Modi hails SC ruling in JMM bribery case

New Delhi, Mar 4:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday hailed the recent Supreme Court ruling in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) bribery scandal, lauding it as a significant step towards ensuring clean politics.

Posting on X, the PM wrote, “Swagatam! A great judgment by the Supreme Court, which will ensure clean politics and deepen people’s faith in the system.”

In a landmark decision, a seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court overturned the majority opinion in the P V Narasimha Rao case, which previously granted lawmakers immunity from prosecution for accepting bribes in exchange for voting or delivering speeches in Parliament or legislative assemblies.

“This ruling, which stemmed from events during the 10th Lok Sabha election in 1991 when the Congress allegedly offered bribes to members of the JMM, marks a pivotal moment in Indian jurisprudence,” media reported.

Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, leading a constitution bench alongside Justices A S Bopanna, M M Sundresh, P S Narasimha, J B Pardiwala, P V Sanjay Kumar, and Manoj Misra delivered the unanimous verdict.

The court’s decision overturned the previous precedent set by the 1998 Narasimha Rao judgement, which had shielded legislators from prosecution even in cases of bribery.

The court firmly rejected the notion that lawmakers could claim immunity for accepting bribes, emphasising that such actions undermine the integrity of parliamentary processes and erode public trust.

It clarified that while Articles 105 (2) and 194 (2) of the constitution grant immunity to Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies for their speech and votes in legislative houses, this protection does not extend to criminal activities like bribery.

Furthermore, the court highlighted the insidious nature of bribery, stating that the mere act of accepting a bribe was sufficient to warrant criminal charges, irrespective of any subsequent actions taken.

This ruling highlights the court’s commitment to upholding probity in public life and safeguarding the democratic principles enshrined in the Indian constitution.

The Supreme Court’s decision in the JMM bribery case and the Prime Minister hailing the decision reaffirms the importance of accountability and transparency in governance, setting a precedent that is poised to reshape the landscape of Indian politics for years to come.