{"id":438,"date":"2026-04-29T09:32:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T09:32:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/?p=438"},"modified":"2026-04-30T07:15:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T07:15:45","slug":"lawmaker-bribery-immunity-ended-sc-2024-ruling-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/lawmaker-bribery-immunity-ended-sc-2024-ruling-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawmaker Bribery Immunity Ended: SC 2024 Ruling Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script src=\"https:\/\/cdn.tailwindcss.com\"><\/script><\/p>\n<section class=\"py-28 [background-size:18px_18px]\">\n<div class=\"blog\">\n<div class=\"max-w-5xl mx-auto text-center\">\n<p>  <!-- LABEL --><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center gap-4 mx-auto mb-4\">\n    <span class=\"w-14 h-[1px] bg-[#c89b3c]\"><\/span><br \/>\n    <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-[11px] tracking-[0.4em] uppercase font-semibold\"><br \/>\n      The Legal Edition<br \/>\n    <\/span><br \/>\n    <span class=\"w-14 h-[1px] bg-[#c89b3c]\"><\/span>\n  <\/div>\n<p>  <!-- TITLE --><\/p>\n<h1 class=\"font-serif text-[20px] md:text-[28px] lg:text-[36px] leading-none text-[#07111f] font-semibold tracking-tight m-0\">\n    Lawmaker <span class=\"italic text-[#b98218] font-medium\">Bribery<\/span> Immunity Ended<br \/>\n  <\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"mt-5 text-[#1f2a44] text-lg md:text-xl font-serif font-semibold text-center mx-auto\">\n  SC 2024 Ruling Explained\n<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- DESCRIPTION --><\/p>\n<p class=\"mt-6 max-w-11xl mx-auto text-[#374151] text-[16px] md:text-[18px] leading-[1.8]\">\n      Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) hold a sacred trust in a constitutional democracy to legislate, protect the Constitution and uphold the rule of law. The Supreme Court&#8217;s 4 March 2024 judgment puts an end to a tradition of impunity by categorically rejecting that MPs and MLAs can take refuge under Articles 105(2) and 194(2) of the Constitution to escape punishment for bribery.\n    <\/p>\n<p>    <!-- META --><\/p>\n<div class=\"mt-10 flex flex-wrap items-center justify-center gap-5 text-[11px] text-[#374151] tracking-[0.28em] uppercase\">\n      <span>By the Editors<\/span><br \/>\n      <span class=\"text-[#b98218]\">\u2022<\/span><br \/>\n      <span>12 Min Read<\/span><br \/>\n      <span class=\"text-[#b98218]\">\u2022<\/span><br \/>\n      <span>India \u00b7 2024<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"py-24 blog\">\n<div class=\"max-w-11xl mx-auto px-6 space-y-20\">\n<p>    <!-- ITEM 1 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-8\">\n<div class=\"flex items-start gap-4 min-w-[90px]\">\n        <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-5xl font-serif\">01<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"w-12 h-[1px] bg-[#c89b3c] mt-5\"><\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"text-5xl font-serif text-[#1f2a44] font-bold\">\n          Introduction: When Lawmakers Break the Law<br \/>\n        <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-[11px] tracking-[0.3em] uppercase text-[#c89b3c] mt-2 mb-5\">\n          Background &#038; Context\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-800 leading-[1.4] text-[20px]\">\n          Parliamentary privileges and immunities are meant to help legislators exercise their roles without fear \u2014 not to shield them from punishment for wrongdoing. However, Indian politics has seen numerous examples where politicians have allegedly taken bribes to cast votes or make speeches, turning privilege into a licence for impunity and destroying public confidence in democracy. The Supreme Court&#8217;s 4 March 2024 judgment overturns the infamous 1998 judgment in P.V. Narasimha Rao v. State (the JMM bribery case) and re-evaluates the balance between privilege, immunity from criminal prosecution, and the rule of law in India.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- ITEM 2 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-8\">\n<div class=\"flex items-start gap-4 min-w-[90px]\">\n        <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-5xl font-serif\">02<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"w-12 h-[1px] bg-[#c89b3c] mt-5\"><\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"text-5xl font-serif text-[#1f2a44] font-bold\">\n          Constitutional Framework: Articles 105 and 194 Explained<br \/>\n        <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-[11px] tracking-[0.3em] uppercase text-[#c89b3c] mt-2 mb-5\">\n          Articles 105(2) &#038; 194(2) of the Constitution of India\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-800 leading-[1.4] text-[20px]\">\n          Members of Parliament and State Legislatures are accorded certain immunities under Articles 105 and 194 of the Constitution of India. Article 105(2) shields MPs from civil or criminal liability &#8220;in respect of anything said or any vote given&#8221; by them in Parliament or its committees. Article 194(2) confers an identical protection to MLAs in State Legislatures. The theory is that legislators should be able to speak, debate, vote and question the government without the fear of civil or criminal actions \u2014 but the extent of this immunity, particularly where a legislator takes a bribe to perform a legislative act, has been a matter of heated debate for long.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- ITEM 3 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-8\">\n<div class=\"flex items-start gap-4 min-w-[90px]\">\n        <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-5xl font-serif\">03<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"w-12 h-[1px] bg-[#c89b3c] mt-5\"><\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"text-5xl font-serif text-[#1f2a44] font-bold\">\n          The JMM Bribery Case: How Immunity Became a Shield for Corruption<br \/>\n        <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-[11px] tracking-[0.3em] uppercase text-[#c89b3c] mt-2 mb-5\">\n          P.V. Narasimha Rao v. State, 1998\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-800 leading-[1.4] text-[20px]\">\n          In 1993, in a critical no-confidence motion against the minority government led by then PM P.V. Narasimha Rao, MPs of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and others were accused of taking bribes to oppose the motion. The Supreme Court ruled, by a narrow 3:2 majority, that MPs who took a bribe and voted in line with the bribe were covered by Article 105(2) because their vote was a legislative act. The majority took a very broad approach to the term &#8220;in respect of,&#8221; allowing bribe-taking legislators a get-out-of-jail card if they kept their corrupted promise in Parliament. The dissenting judges argued that bribery is an offence as soon as the bribe is accepted and cannot be justified as being in the course of legislators&#8217; duties \u2014 but for more than two decades, the majority opinion stood.\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-700 leading-[1.9] text-[15px] mt-3\">\n          <strong>Verdict:<\/strong> 3:2 majority \u2014 MPs immune if they voted per the bribe. Overturned in 2024.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- ITEM 4 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-8\">\n<div class=\"flex items-start gap-4 min-w-[90px]\">\n        <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-5xl font-serif\">04<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"w-12 h-[1px] bg-[#c89b3c] mt-5\"><\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"text-5xl font-serif text-[#1f2a44] font-bold\">\n          The Sita Soren Case: The Trigger for Reconsidering Lawmaker Bribery Immunity<br \/>\n        <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-[11px] tracking-[0.3em] uppercase text-[#c89b3c] mt-2 mb-5\">\n          Sita Soren v. Union of India \u2014 2012 Rajya Sabha Elections, Jharkhand\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-800 leading-[1.4] text-[20px]\">\n          JMM MLA Sita Soren was alleged to have taken a bribe from an independent candidate for her vote in the 2012 Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand. After accepting money, she allegedly voted for her party&#8217;s candidate instead, resulting in a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act. She defended herself by invoking protection under Article 194(2), based largely on the 1998 Narasimha Rao decision. The Jharkhand High Court dismissed this argument in 2014. A three-judge Supreme Court Bench sent the case to a larger Bench in 2019, which was further referred to a seven-judge Constitution Bench that heard it, reserved the case on 5 October 2023, and finally ruled on 4 March 2024.\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-700 leading-[1.9] text-[15px] mt-3\">\n          <strong>Significance:<\/strong> The case involved questions of far-reaching consequences for parliamentary democracy and public morality.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- ITEM 5 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-8\">\n<div class=\"flex items-start gap-4 min-w-[90px]\">\n        <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-5xl font-serif\">05<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"w-12 h-[1px] bg-[#c89b3c] mt-5\"><\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"text-5xl font-serif text-[#1f2a44] font-bold\">\n          The 4 March 2024 Judgment: No Immunity for MP and MLA Bribery<br \/>\n        <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-[11px] tracking-[0.3em] uppercase text-[#c89b3c] mt-2 mb-5\">\n          Seven-Judge Constitution Bench, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-800 leading-[1.4] text-[20px]\">\n          A seven-judge Constitution Bench unanimously ruled that MPs and MLAs do not enjoy immunity from punishment for bribery under Articles 105(2) and 194(2). The Bench overturned the 1998 P.V. Narasimha Rao verdict and unequivocally held that bribery is not a legislative act and cannot be sheltered under the cloak of parliamentary privilege. Key holdings include: bribery is an offence at the point the bribe is accepted, regardless of whether the legislator actually votes or speaks as bribed; immunity applies only to bona fide speeches and votes, not to crimes like corruption; a two-limbed test requires acts to concern the collective work of the House and be incidental to constitutional functions \u2014 bribing fails both; and the ruling covers Rajya Sabha elections as well as elections for President and Vice-President.\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-700 leading-[1.9] text-[15px] mt-3\">\n          <strong>Doctrine:<\/strong> Stare decisis is not binding when a previous decision violates public interest, democracy, or misreads the Constitution.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- ITEM 6 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-8\">\n<div class=\"flex items-start gap-4 min-w-[90px]\">\n        <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-5xl font-serif\">06<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"w-12 h-[1px] bg-[#c89b3c] mt-5\"><\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"text-5xl font-serif text-[#1f2a44] font-bold\">\n          Parliamentary Privilege vs Criminal Accountability: Drawing the Line<br \/>\n        <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-[11px] tracking-[0.3em] uppercase text-[#c89b3c] mt-2 mb-5\">\n          Scope of Immunity &#038; Criminal Jurisdiction\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-800 leading-[1.4] text-[20px]\">\n          Parliamentary immunity is designed to protect freedom of speech, freedom of vote, and the independent functioning of the House \u2014 free from intervention by other State organs. It is not an individual privilege or an immunity to commit corruption, bribery, or other crimes. Allowing immunity for bribery would compromise public trust in democratic processes, condone corruption at the heart of legislative processes, and set legislators above the law. In clarifying that criminal courts have jurisdiction to deal with bribery relating to MPs and MLAs, the Supreme Court confirmed that Parliament&#8217;s internal powers (such as expulsion or suspension) and the criminal justice system are not the same \u2014 the former does not preclude or substitute for criminal proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act.\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-700 leading-[1.9] text-[15px] mt-3\">\n          <strong>Key Distinction:<\/strong> Institutional powers of Parliament vs. criminal liability under law \u2014 both can co-exist.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- ITEM 7 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-8\">\n<div class=\"flex items-start gap-4 min-w-[90px]\">\n        <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-5xl font-serif\">07<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"w-12 h-[1px] bg-[#c89b3c] mt-5\"><\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"text-5xl font-serif text-[#1f2a44] font-bold\">\n          Comparative &#038; Global Perspective on Lawmaker Bribery Immunity<br \/>\n        <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-[11px] tracking-[0.3em] uppercase text-[#c89b3c] mt-2 mb-5\">\n          International Anti-Corruption Standards\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-800 leading-[1.4] text-[20px]\">\n          The Court&#8217;s analysis is in line with how most other parliamentary democracies deal with corruption by lawmakers. In many Commonwealth countries, bribery and corruption by legislators is a criminal offence not protected by parliamentary privilege, despite legislators enjoying immunity for their bona fide speeches or votes. There is very little international support for the concept of constitutional or parliamentary privilege as a defence to a charge of corruption. India&#8217;s adoption of this position brings it in line with emerging international anti-corruption standards.\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-700 leading-[1.9] text-[15px] mt-3\">\n          <strong>Global Alignment:<\/strong> Most Commonwealth nations do not extend parliamentary privilege to cover bribery or corruption offences.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    <!-- ITEM 8 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-8\">\n<div class=\"flex items-start gap-4 min-w-[90px]\">\n        <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-5xl font-serif\">08<\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"w-12 h-[1px] bg-[#c89b3c] mt-5\"><\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"text-5xl font-serif text-[#1f2a44] font-bold\">\n          Why This Judgment Matters: Integrity, Democracy &#038; the Rule of Law<br \/>\n        <\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-[11px] tracking-[0.3em] uppercase text-[#c89b3c] mt-2 mb-5\">\n          Constitutional Significance &#038; Public Impact\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-800 leading-[1.4] text-[20px]\">\n          This Supreme Court ruling is a landmark moment for India&#8217;s constitution. It reaffirms the rule of law even for lawmakers, removes the well-acknowledged loophole that let bribe-taking legislators escape prosecution by performing the act in Parliament, and confirms that privilege cannot be abused to conceal criminal acts. Public integrity is not merely a moral ideal \u2014 it is a constitutional duty. For the public, this ruling boosts trust in the judiciary and demonstrates a strong institutional will to deal decisively with corruption in high office. For politicians, it serves as a reminder that constitutional immunity is attached to duty and responsibility \u2014 not privilege and greed.\n        <\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-700 leading-[1.9] text-[15px] mt-3\">\n          <strong>Prosecuted Under:<\/strong> Prevention of Corruption Act and other applicable criminal laws.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"bg-[#f6f0e6] py-24\">\n<div class=\"w-full px-6 md:px-20\">\n<p>    <!-- TITLE --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-center text-3xl md:text-4xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44] mb-16\">\n      The Two-Limbed Test for Parliamentary Immunity<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<p>    <!-- TIMELINE --><\/p>\n<div class=\"relative border-l border-[#e5dccb] pl-8 space-y-12 w-full\">\n<p>      <!-- ITEM 1 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"relative\">\n        <span class=\"absolute -left-[9px] top-2 w-3 h-3 bg-[#c89b3c] rounded-full\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44]\">\n          Limb 1: Collective Work of the House<br \/>\n        <\/h3>\n<p class=\"mt-2 text-gray-700 leading-[1.9] w-full\">\n          The act must concern the collective functioning of the legislature. A bona fide speech or vote contributing to parliamentary debate qualifies. Accepting a bribe \u2014 a private, corrupt transaction \u2014 does not concern the functioning of the House in any legitimate sense.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <!-- ITEM 2 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"relative\">\n        <span class=\"absolute -left-[9px] top-2 w-3 h-3 bg-[#c89b3c] rounded-full\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44]\">\n          Limb 2: Incidental to Constitutional Functions<br \/>\n        <\/h3>\n<p class=\"mt-2 text-gray-700 leading-[1.9]\">\n          The act must be incidental to the legislator&#8217;s constitutional role. Receiving money for a vote or speech is not a valid constitutional function of a legislator. It is a crime under the Prevention of Corruption Act and falls entirely outside the scope of legislative duty.\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <!-- ITEM 3 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"relative\">\n        <span class=\"absolute -left-[9px] top-2 w-3 h-3 bg-[#c89b3c] rounded-full\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"text-xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44]\">\n          Why Bribery Fails Both Limbs<br \/>\n        <\/h3>\n<p class=\"mt-2 text-gray-700 leading-[1.9]\">\n          Bribery is a standalone criminal offence crystallised at the moment of acceptance \u2014 regardless of whether the legislator follows through on the corrupt promise. It is neither essential to the functioning of the House nor a constitutionally mandated function, and therefore attracts no immunity whatsoever under Articles 105(2) or 194(2).\n        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"bg-[#faf6ee] py-24\">\n<div class=\"w-full mx-auto px-6\">\n<p>    <!-- LABEL --><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-center text-[#c89b3c] tracking-[0.4em] text-xs uppercase mb-4\">\n      Reference\n    <\/p>\n<p>    <!-- TITLE --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-center text-4xl md:text-5xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44] leading-tight mb-16\">\n      The Case Timeline at a Glance<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<p>    <!-- LIST --><\/p>\n<div class=\"space-y-12\">\n<p>      <!-- ITEM 1 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-6 items-start\">\n        <span class=\"w-3 h-3 bg-[#c89b3c] rounded-full mt-3\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"text-4xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44]\">\n            1993 \u2014 JMM No-Confidence Vote<br \/>\n          <\/h3>\n<p class=\"mt-2 text-gray-800 text-[20px] leading-[1.8]\">\n            JMM MPs allegedly accepted bribes to vote against the no-confidence motion against PM P.V. Narasimha Rao&#8217;s minority government. The origin of the JMM bribery scandal.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <!-- ITEM 2 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-6 items-start\">\n        <span class=\"w-3 h-3 bg-[#c89b3c] rounded-full mt-3\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"text-4xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44]\">\n            1998 \u2014 Supreme Court 3:2 Majority (P.V. Narasimha Rao v. State)<br \/>\n          <\/h3>\n<p class=\"mt-2 text-gray-800 text-[20px] leading-[1.8]\">\n            The Supreme Court held that MPs who voted per the bribe were covered by Article 105(2). A controversial ruling that provided bribe-taking legislators a shield from prosecution for over two decades.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>      <!-- ITEM 3 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-6 items-start\">\n        <span class=\"w-3 h-3 bg-[#c89b3c] rounded-full mt-3\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"text-4xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44]\">\n            2012\u20132024 \u2014 Sita Soren Case Journey<br \/>\n          <\/h3>\n<p class=\"mt-2 text-gray-800 text-[16px] leading-[1.8]\">\n            Jharkhand MLA Sita Soren&#8217;s case travels from the Jharkhand High Court (2014) \u2192 Supreme Court 3-judge Bench (2019 referral) \u2192 5-judge Bench \u2192 7-judge Constitution Bench \u2192 Final ruling on 4 March 2024: unanimous reversal of the 1998 precedent.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"w-full bg-[#0b1f2e] py-28\">\n<div class=\"max-w-6xl mx-auto px-6 grid md:grid-cols-2 gap-16 items-center\">\n<div class=\"w-full mx-auto md:mx-0\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center gap-3 mb-6\">\n        <svg class=\"w-5 h-5 text-[#c89b3c]\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\n          viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\">\n          <path d=\"M4 19.5V6a2 2 0 012-2h4v15.5M20 19.5V6a2 2 0 00-2-2h-4v15.5\" \/>\n        <\/svg><br \/>\n        <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] tracking-[0.35em] text-xs uppercase\"><br \/>\n          Legal Corner<br \/>\n        <\/span>\n      <\/div>\n<h2 class=\"text-4xl md:text-5xl lg:text-6xl font-serif font-bold text-white leading-[1.15]\">\n        Key Laws &#038;<br \/>Provisions Cited<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<p class=\"mt-6 text-gray-300 text-[16px] leading-[1.9]\">\n        The 2024 ruling draws on multiple constitutional provisions and statutes. Here are the essential legal instruments every citizen and legal professional should know in the context of this judgment.\n      <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"space-y-12 max-w-lg mx-auto md:mx-0\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-5\">\n        <span class=\"w-[2px] bg-[#c89b3c]\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"text-xl font-serif font-bold text-white\">\n            Articles 105(2) &#038; 194(2) \u2014 Constitution of India<br \/>\n          <\/h3>\n<p class=\"mt-3 text-gray-300 leading-[1.8]\">\n            Grant MPs and MLAs immunity for speeches and votes in Parliament and State Legislatures. The 2024 ruling clarifies these do not extend to bribery or corruption offences.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-5\">\n        <span class=\"w-[2px] bg-[#c89b3c]\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"text-xl font-serif font-bold text-white\">\n            Prevention of Corruption Act<br \/>\n          <\/h3>\n<p class=\"mt-3 text-gray-300 leading-[1.8]\">\n            The primary statute under which bribe-taking MPs and MLAs can now be prosecuted. Criminal courts have full jurisdiction over such offences, unhindered by parliamentary privilege.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"bg-[#f6f0e6] py-24\">\n<div class=\"w-full mx-auto px-6\">\n<p class=\"text-center text-[#c89b3c] tracking-[0.35em] text-xs uppercase mb-4\">\n      FAQ\n    <\/p>\n<h2 class=\"text-center text-3xl md:text-4xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44] mb-14\">\n      Frequently Asked Questions<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"space-y-5\">\n<p>      <!-- FAQ 1 --><\/p>\n<details class=\"group bg-white\/50 border border-[#e5dccb] rounded-xl px-6 py-4\">\n<summary class=\"cursor-pointer list-none flex items-center justify-between gap-6\">\n          <span class=\"text-xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44]\"><br \/>\n            Can an MP or MLA claim immunity for accepting a bribe in India?<br \/>\n          <\/span><br \/>\n          <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-xl leading-none group-open:rotate-45 transition\">+<\/span><br \/>\n        <\/summary>\n<p class=\"mt-2 text-gray-700 leading-[1.8]\">\n          No. According to the Supreme Court&#8217;s 4 March 2024 ruling in Sita Soren v. Union of India, MPs and MLAs are not immune from being charged with bribery under Articles 105(2) and 194(2) of the Constitution. The Court unanimously overturned the JMM bribery case (1998).\n        <\/p>\n<\/details>\n<p>      <!-- FAQ 2 --><\/p>\n<details class=\"group bg-white\/50 border border-[#e5dccb] rounded-xl px-6 py-4\">\n<summary class=\"cursor-pointer list-none flex items-center justify-between gap-6\">\n          <span class=\"text-xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44]\"><br \/>\n            What did the JMM bribery case (P.V. Narasimha Rao v. State, 1998) hold?<br \/>\n          <\/span><br \/>\n          <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-xl leading-none group-open:rotate-45 transition\">+<\/span><br \/>\n        <\/summary>\n<p class=\"mt-2 text-gray-700 leading-[1.8]\">\n          In 1998, the Supreme Court, in a 3:2 majority, held that MPs who received bribes and voted in accordance with the bribe were covered by Article 105(2). In 2024, this judgment was overturned because it was seen to weaken democratic governance and the rule of law.\n        <\/p>\n<\/details>\n<p>      <!-- FAQ 3 --><\/p>\n<details class=\"group bg-white\/50 border border-[#e5dccb] rounded-xl px-6 py-4\">\n<summary class=\"cursor-pointer list-none flex items-center justify-between gap-6\">\n          <span class=\"text-xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44]\"><br \/>\n            What is the two-part test for parliamentary immunity in India?<br \/>\n          <\/span><br \/>\n          <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-xl leading-none group-open:rotate-45 transition\">+<\/span><br \/>\n        <\/summary>\n<p class=\"mt-2 text-gray-700 leading-[1.8]\">\n          The 2024 ruling says a lawmaker is only immune from prosecution if the act (1) concerns the collective functioning of the legislature and (2) is incidental to the legislator&#8217;s constitutional role. Bribery does not pass either test.\n        <\/p>\n<\/details>\n<p>      <!-- FAQ 4 --><\/p>\n<details class=\"group bg-white\/50 border border-[#e5dccb] rounded-xl px-6 py-4\">\n<summary class=\"cursor-pointer list-none flex items-center justify-between gap-6\">\n          <span class=\"text-xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44]\"><br \/>\n            Does the 2024 ruling on bribery immunity apply to Rajya Sabha elections?<br \/>\n          <\/span><br \/>\n          <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-xl leading-none group-open:rotate-45 transition\">+<\/span><br \/>\n        <\/summary>\n<p class=\"mt-2 text-gray-700 leading-[1.8]\">\n          Yes. The Supreme Court has clarified that the bar on bribery immunity also applies to Rajya Sabha elections, and to elections for President and Vice-President of India.\n        <\/p>\n<\/details>\n<p>      <!-- FAQ 5 --><\/p>\n<details class=\"group bg-white\/50 border border-[#e5dccb] rounded-xl px-6 py-4\">\n<summary class=\"cursor-pointer list-none flex items-center justify-between gap-6\">\n          <span class=\"text-xl font-serif font-bold text-[#1f2a44]\"><br \/>\n            Under which law can a bribe-taking MP or MLA be prosecuted?<br \/>\n          <\/span><br \/>\n          <span class=\"text-[#c89b3c] text-xl leading-none group-open:rotate-45 transition\">+<\/span><br \/>\n        <\/summary>\n<p class=\"mt-2 text-gray-700 leading-[1.8]\">\n          A bribe-taking MP or MLA can be prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other criminal laws. Criminal courts have full jurisdiction over these offences and face no bar from exercising their powers.\n        <\/p>\n<\/details><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Legal Edition Lawmaker Bribery Immunity Ended SC 2024 Ruling Explained Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) hold a sacred trust in a constitutional democracy to&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":445,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-delhi-high-court"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=438"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":458,"href":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438\/revisions\/458"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delhilegalexpert.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}