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Poll nominees to reveal income source: Supreme Court

The court said that candidates (or their associates, dependents, spouses) will also disclose government contracts if they have any.

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Candidates contesting elections will have to reveal the source of their income along with that of their spouses and dependents, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday. Till date, a candidate is required to disclose details of assets and liabilities for him/her, spouse and three dependents in Form 26, while filing nomination papers, but not the source of income.

The court said that candidates (or their associates, dependents, spouses) will also disclose government contracts if they have any.

The court also said that there will be a permanent mechanism to periodically collate data and scrutinise instances of disproportionate increase in the wealth of candidates which would then be placed in public domain to allow voters to make an informed choice.

However, the court declined any inquiry, for now, into the wealth of legislators named in the petition, suggesting it would amount to selective scrutiny and political witch-hunt.

This brings relief to 26 Lok Sabha MPs, 11 Rajya Sabha MPs and 257 MLAs whose assets had increased by more than 500 per cent between two elections.

A bench pronounced the judgment on a plea by NGO Lok Prahari that sought amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1951

Accumulation of wealth without any known or by questionable sources of income paves way for the rule of mafia, the bench said.

SC: Also that of spouse, dependents

  • Currently, a candidate discloses assets and liabilities for him/her, spouse and three dependents, but not income source 
  • The court also said there will be a permanent mechanism to scrutinise instances of disproportionate increase in wealth 

 

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