Publicise candidate’s criminal history: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked all political parties to reveal the criminal antecedents of their candidates in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections within 48 hours of their selection. Also, they must submit the same details to the Election Commission within 72 hours.

Ruling on contempt petitions on non-compliance of similar directives, the Bench of Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman and Ravindra Bhat ruled that the details, which include the nature of crime and the stage of the trial of the candidate, are expected to be published in local newspapers and uploaded on the parties' official websites and their social media handles.Going further, the court said the parties must assign the reasons

for choosing the candidates. "Winn ability cannot be the only reason for selecting a candidate with criminal antecedents," the Bench said.

The non-compliance of court’s orders will invite contempt action.The order came on the contempt petitions filed by two Delhi lawyers against the Election Commission for its failure to comply with the directions by a Constitution Bench with respect to decriminalisation of politics.

The contempt petition said the EC as well as the political parties have not complied with the directions of the 5-judge Bench on September 25, 2018, requiring the parties to mention the criminal history in the nomination forms. And that the parties and the candidates must advertise thrice in newspapers of the area and also on electronic media after filing the nomination papers.