The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked all states and Union Territories to implement the judgement of the Supreme Court on conviction of sitting MLAs and MPs, and devise a proper mechanism to track cases of their conviction.
The Election Commission has in a letter addressed to Chief Secretaries of the states also sought a monthly status report about the cases of conviction of sitting members of parliament or state legislature.
The poll body has cited the apex court judgement whereby the protection against immediate disqualification from membership enjoyed by sitting members on conviction and sentence to imprisonment or fine will no longer be available.
The Election Commission said that it is necessary to have a system in place so that cases of conviction of sitting members of parliament and state legislature are immediately communicated to the speaker or chairman of the house concerned and to the commission.
The Chief Electoral officers of all states have also been asked to pursue the matter with states in monitoring the case of conviction of sitting members.
The Election Commission said if any sitting Member of Parliament or State Legislature is convicted or sentenced to imprisonment and fine after the date of this judgment he or she will be disqualified from membership forthwith and his or her seat will become vacant.