NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday overruled the 1998 Narasimha Rao verdict which had shielded MPs who had indulged in vote-for-bribe and saved them from prosecution for voting in favour of Narasimha Rao-led Congress government in 1993.

In 1998, a five-judge bench delivered its verdict in the JMM bribery case as per which MPs and MLAs were granted immunity from prosecution for taking bribe to make a speech or vote in the legislature.

Pronouncing the verdict, the top court added that bribery isn't protected by parliamentary privileges and interpretation of 1998 verdict is contrary to Articles 105 and 194 of the Constitution.

"Corruption and bribery by legislators destroy the functioning of Indian parliamentary democracy," the bench comprising CJI Chandrachud and Justices AS Bopanna, MM Sundresh, PS Narasimha, JB Pardiwala, Sanjay Kumar and Manoj Misra said.

Articles 105 and 194 deal with the powers and privileges of MPs and MLAs in Parliament and legislative assemblies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the apex court judgment and said it will ensure clean politics.

"A great judgment by the Supreme Court which will ensure clean politics and deepen people's faith in the system," he posted on X, formerly Twitter.