Stopping short of prescribing disqualification for tainted people becoming ministers, the Supreme Court today strongly advised Prime Minister and Chief Ministers not to induct in their ministry people against whom charges have been framed in criminal and corruption cases.
The apex court left it to the wisdom of the PM and CMs not to recommend such names to the President and Governor, observing that nation has reposed faith in them for "good governance".
Holding that the Prime Minister is the repository of constitutional trust, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice R M Lodha, hoped the PM would not induct such "unwarranted elements" in his ministry in national interest.
The court was responding to the PIL filed by Manoj Narula who had challeged the inclusion of Lalu Prasad, Jai Prakash Yadav, MAA Fatmi, Mohd Taslimuddin and K Venkatapathy in the council of ministers in the UPA I regime.
The court's remarks would assume significance particularly in the case of union minister Uma Bharati who is the only minister against whom chargesheets have been filed, going back to the Babri masjid demolition cases.
Justice Dipak Misra writing for himself, Justice S.A. Bobde and CJI R.M. Lodha wrote