Supreme Court ruling will not affect Bibi, for now
Thursday, 11/07/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130711/punjab.htm#6
Chandigarh : The Supreme Court ruling that legislators and MPs convicted and sentenced for a period of two years and more will have to quit their seats will not have any immediate effect in Punjab but could affect the careers of those facing charges in criminal cases. This is because political parties would not like to nominate such persons. A conviction would force these persons to quit their seat, forcing a byelection.
In Punjab, former minister Bibi Jagir Kaur and former legislator Mangal Ram Bansal are the only two politicians who have been sentenced to more than two years. However, since the order of the apex court will only be applicable to politicians convicted "henceforth," the leaders would not be affected immediately. They have appealed against their conviction.
Bibi Jagir Kaur was convicted by a special CBI court for illegal confinement and abortion of her daughter Harpreet Kaur last year. She was awarded a five-year sentence. Bansal was handed out a seven-year sentence in April this year in a case involving embezzlement of paddy. Also, former Agriculture Minister Tota Singh was handed over a one-year conviction for misusing the official vehicle of the school board. He has appealed against the conviction. However, the decision could have serious repercussions for former CM Amarinder Singh facing trial in the Ludhiana city centre scam. If convicted, he would be out of active politics.
Former legislator Mangal Ram Bansal sentenced to seven years in paddy embezzlement case
Former Agriculture Minister Tota Singh was handed over a one-year conviction for misusing official vehicle
