For being a Member of Parliament in India qualifications laid down in the Constitution of India
# He must be a citizen of India.
# He must make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation before the person authorised by the election commission for this purpose.
In his oath or affirmation, he swears
1. To bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India
2. To uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India
# He must be not less than 30 years of age in the case of the Rajya Sabha and not less than 25 years of age in the case of the Lok Sabha.
# He must possess other qualifications prescribed by Parliament.
Qualifications which are being laid down in the Representation of People Act (1951) and not in the Constitution of India
He has to be registered as a voter in any parliamentary constituency of India.
This is applicable for both, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.
Before 2003, there was a rule that contesting for a Rajya Sabha seat the candidate must be an elector in the particular state from where he is contesting but this requirement has been waived off since 2003.
In 2006, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of this change.
A member of scheduled castes or scheduled tribes can also contest a seat not reserved for them.
Disqualification Conditions of Member of Parliament laid down in the Constitution
# if he holds any office of profit under the Union or state government (except that of a minister or any other office exempted by Parliament).
# if he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a court.
# if he is an undischarged insolvent
# if he is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign state or is under any acknowledgement of allegiance to a foreign state
# if he is so disqualified under any law made by Parliament.
Disqualification Conditions of Member of Parliament laid down in the Representation of People Act (1951) and not in the Constitution of India
# He must not have been found guilty of certain election offences or corrupt practices in the elections
# He must not have been convicted for any offence resulting in imprisonment for two or more years.
# However, the detention of a person under a preventive detention law is not a disqualification.
# Should file his election expenses within the time.
# Should not be involved in government contracts, works or services.
# He must not be a director or managing agent nor hold an office of profit in a corporation in which the government has at least 25 per cent share
# He must not have been dismissed from government service for corruption or disloyalty to the State.
# He must not have been convicted for promoting enmity between different groups or for bribery.
# Should not promote social crimes such as untouchability, dowry and sati.
On the question whether a member is subject to any of the above disqualifications, the president’s decision is final.
However, he should obtain the opinion of the election commission and act accordingly.
# If the Member of Parliament is disqualified on the grounds of Defection according to the provisions of the 10th schedule of India.
Lily Thomas Case 2013
Section 8(4) of RPA, 1951 gave a reprieve of three months to legislators from immediate disqualification if they were convicted for an offence, so that they could file an appeal in the higher courts.
The SC in Lily Thomas case 2013, reversing one of its own judgment of 2005 where it accepted differential treatment of legislators and candidates, invalidated Section 8(4) on the grounds that :
(i) Differential treatment of legislators and candidates violates the law of equality as envisaged under Art 14
(ii) It interpreted Article 101(3)(a) to state that any disqualification is immediate
In order to negate this judgement the Parliament subsequently passed an amendment to RPA, 1951 reinstating Section 8(4) in effect by giving a cooling off period of 90 days and allowing the convicted legislator to continue if he/she is able to get a stay on either the sentence or conviction.
The passage of this Bill without a discussion in Rajya Sabha created huge furor as it was an action that was seemingly governed by politician – criminal nexus which has led to the menace of criminalization of politics.
However the then Law Minister Mr Kapil Sibal had argued that the amendment would prevent political victimization as false charges can be filed against a person.
In light of huge public pressure, the bill was subsequently withdrawn.
# He must be a citizen of India.
# He must make and subscribe to an oath or affirmation before the person authorised by the election commission for this purpose.
In his oath or affirmation, he swears
1. To bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India
2. To uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India
# He must be not less than 30 years of age in the case of the Rajya Sabha and not less than 25 years of age in the case of the Lok Sabha.
# He must possess other qualifications prescribed by Parliament.
Qualifications which are being laid down in the Representation of People Act (1951) and not in the Constitution of India
He has to be registered as a voter in any parliamentary constituency of India.
This is applicable for both, the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha.
Before 2003, there was a rule that contesting for a Rajya Sabha seat the candidate must be an elector in the particular state from where he is contesting but this requirement has been waived off since 2003.
In 2006, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of this change.
A member of scheduled castes or scheduled tribes can also contest a seat not reserved for them.
How a Member of Parliament is disqualified in India
Disqualification Conditions of Member of Parliament laid down in the Constitution
# if he holds any office of profit under the Union or state government (except that of a minister or any other office exempted by Parliament).
# if he is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a court.
# if he is an undischarged insolvent
# if he is not a citizen of India or has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of a foreign state or is under any acknowledgement of allegiance to a foreign state
# if he is so disqualified under any law made by Parliament.
Disqualification Conditions of Member of Parliament laid down in the Representation of People Act (1951) and not in the Constitution of India
# He must not have been found guilty of certain election offences or corrupt practices in the elections
# He must not have been convicted for any offence resulting in imprisonment for two or more years.
# However, the detention of a person under a preventive detention law is not a disqualification.
# Should file his election expenses within the time.
# Should not be involved in government contracts, works or services.
# He must not be a director or managing agent nor hold an office of profit in a corporation in which the government has at least 25 per cent share
# He must not have been dismissed from government service for corruption or disloyalty to the State.
# He must not have been convicted for promoting enmity between different groups or for bribery.
# Should not promote social crimes such as untouchability, dowry and sati.
On the question whether a member is subject to any of the above disqualifications, the president’s decision is final.
However, he should obtain the opinion of the election commission and act accordingly.
# If the Member of Parliament is disqualified on the grounds of Defection according to the provisions of the 10th schedule of India.
Lily Thomas Case 2013
Section 8(4) of RPA, 1951 gave a reprieve of three months to legislators from immediate disqualification if they were convicted for an offence, so that they could file an appeal in the higher courts.
The SC in Lily Thomas case 2013, reversing one of its own judgment of 2005 where it accepted differential treatment of legislators and candidates, invalidated Section 8(4) on the grounds that :
(i) Differential treatment of legislators and candidates violates the law of equality as envisaged under Art 14
(ii) It interpreted Article 101(3)(a) to state that any disqualification is immediate
In order to negate this judgement the Parliament subsequently passed an amendment to RPA, 1951 reinstating Section 8(4) in effect by giving a cooling off period of 90 days and allowing the convicted legislator to continue if he/she is able to get a stay on either the sentence or conviction.
The passage of this Bill without a discussion in Rajya Sabha created huge furor as it was an action that was seemingly governed by politician – criminal nexus which has led to the menace of criminalization of politics.
However the then Law Minister Mr Kapil Sibal had argued that the amendment would prevent political victimization as false charges can be filed against a person.
In light of huge public pressure, the bill was subsequently withdrawn.
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