SC directs political parties to upload details of pending criminal cases against candidates on website

Noting that there has been an alarming increase in criminalisation of politics, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed all politicial parties to upload details of pending criminal cases against the candidates on their websites.

The top court also ordered political parties to upload reasons for choosing candidates with pending criminal cases on their website.

An order was passed in response to a contempt plea, which has raised the issue of criminalisation of politics and claimed that the directions given by the apex court in its September 2018 verdict relating to disclosure of criminal antecedents of political candidates were not being followed.

A bench headed by Justice RF Nariman also directed that political parties will publish these details on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter and in one local vernacular and one national newspaper.

The court directed political parties to submit a compliance report in this regard to the Election Commission within 72 hours of selecting candidates having pending criminal cases against them. In case of failure, the EC shall bring it to the notice of the apex court, the SC added.

On January 31, the bench had reserved its order on the plea, observing that the issue has to be dealt with carefully. The court also noted that serious allegations with 'political overtones' are often being made against candidates.

While pronouncing the order, the bench said it appears that there has been an alarming increase in criminalisation of politics in the last four general elections.