Jailed Amritpal Singh's likely election bid: Can a person behind bars contest polls in India? What does the law say?

Jailed pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh, who is currently lodged in a jail in Assam, is keen to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Punjab's Khadoor Sahib seat as an independent candidate.

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Singh, chief of the 'Waris Punjab De' outfit, was arrested in April last year after being booked under the National Security Act (NSA).

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This raises the question whether a jailed person can contest elections in India? The issue has been debated for long and has even reached courts, including the Supreme Court of India.

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First, no one is barred from contesting elections unless convicted. Even for convicted politicians, the disqualification is not more than 6 years post the expiry of the jail term.

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On November 9, the SC issued guidelines to High Courts to monitor the speedy disposal of criminal cases against Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs).

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