NOB- Delhi news: The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the return of those convicted in criminal cases to Parliament and the Legislative Assembly. It said that politics has become a crime and this is the biggest problem the country is facing. Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking speedy trial of criminal cases against former and sitting MPs and MLAs and a lifetime ban on convicted leaders from contesting elections again. A bench of Justices Dipankar Dutta and Manmohan Singh heard the matter on 11.02.2025. The Supreme Court questioned how politicians were coming to Parliament and the Legislative Assembly even after being convicted and confirmed by the High Court. It questioned the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 of the Representation of the People Act, which bar a leader from contesting elections for only six years if he is convicted. It observed that a government servant who is convicted in a corruption case will be disqualified from continuing in service, but he can enter politics and become a minister. The Supreme Court upheld the objections raised by Vijay Hansaria, who was an amicus curiae in the case, on the leaders who committed murders running parties. Vijay Hansaria brought to the court’s attention that criminal cases against 42 percent of sitting MPs are pending, and some cases have been going on for 30 years. Responding, Justice Dipankar Dutta said that he would propose to Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna to constitute an appropriate bench to examine the matter. Meanwhile, Vijay requested that the current law allows even those who committed murder to be presidents of recognized parties, and he should examine it. In this context, the Supreme Court has issued notices to the Central Government and the Election Commission to respond within 3 weeks on the objections raised by the petitioner on the validity of Sections 8 and 9 of the Representation of the People Act. Advocate Siddhant Kumar, appearing for the Central Election Commission, said that he wanted to be given time to express his opinion. With this, the court adjourned the further hearing to the 4^th of March 2025.