SC dismisses PIL challenging biz biggies entry into RS

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a PIL questioning the entry of business and corporate bigwigs into the Rajya Sabha “using” their money power."What sort of a PIL is this. That is the reason we are becoming allergic to PILs. We cannot entertain this PIL. It is for Parliament to take action on such things," the bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and P Sathasivam observed, while dismissing the PIL filed by NGO Citizens Constitutional Prerogative.The PIL said that in recent years many corporate and business house owners/executives have been getting elected to the Rajya Sabha from different States by engineering defections in political parties and by purchasing independent MLAs.The petition cited the alleged case of Parimal Nathwani, reportedly an aide of Reliance's Mukesh Ambani, getting elected to the Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand, after alleged horse trading.The petition claimed that the practice of bigwigs buying their way into the Rajya Sabha violated Article 21 (right to liberty) of the Constitution and vitiated the concept of free and fair elections.The petition filed by advocate Raja Ram, who is also the president of the NGO, submitted that prior to 1990, only 3 per cent of the Rajya Sabha members were from outside the State. But in recent years, it was submitted that one out of every 10 Rajya Sabha members came from outside the State to which he/she was elected."There are surrogate MPs whom may dodge public scrutiny about their links with business houses but are firmly ensconced with such groups," the petition observed.The PIL also alleged that influential business bigwigs after being elected to the Rajya Sabha get themselves attached to the "standing committee" and "Parliamentary Consultative Committee" and influenced the Government’s decision making process.The petition urged the apex court to frame guidelines to avoid such malpractices in elections to the Rajya Sabha and urged it countermand such elections whenever they are detected.However, the apex court showed no inclination to entertain the plea and dismissed it.© Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved.
Friday, May 09, 2008
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