India, March 5 -- New Delhi The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought a response from the Election Commission on the number of instances when it has either reduced or removed the period of disqualification incurred by any legislator pursuant to conviction in a criminal case.

Hearing a petition seeking a life ban on contesting polls for convicted members of Parliament and legislative assemblies, a bench headed by justice Dipankar Datta found this information to be in "interest of justice" as in the past, there were two recorded instances in 1977 when the EC used its authority under Section 11 of the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 (RP Act) to reduce the period of disqualification.

The bench, also comprising justice Manmohan said, "In the i...