CRIMINALIZATION of POLITICS
CRIMINALIZATION of POLITICS:
Currently,under the Representation of Peoples (RP)Act,lawmakers cannot contest Elections only after their Conviction in a Criminal case.
Section 8 of the Representation of the People (RP) Act,1951 disqualifies a person convicted with a sentence of two years or more from contesting elections.But those under trial continued to be eligible to contest elections.The Lily Thomas case (2013), however, ended this unfair.
The Judiciary protects the Parliamentary System from Criminalisation.
Efforts by SC in this regard:
The SC has repeatedly expressed concern about the purity of legislatures.
In 2002,it made it obligatory for all candidates to file an affidavit before the returning officer,disclosing Criminal cases pending against them.
The famous order to introduce NOTA was intended to make political parties think before giving Tickets to the tainted.
In its landmark Judgment,2014, the SC accepted the urgent need for Cleansing Politics of Criminalisation and directed all Subordinate Courts to decide on cases involving legislators within a year,or give reasons for not doing so to the Chief Justice of the High Court.
Some MPs in the current Lok Sabha face Criminal Charges.Of them,some face serious Criminal Charges.
Causes of Criminalization:
•Corruption
•Vote Bank.
•Lack of Governance
•Lack of Public Awakening,etc.
Ways to Curb the trend:
•Political Parties should themselves refuse tickets to the tainted.
•The RP Act should be amended to debar persons against whom cases of a heinous nature are pending from contesting elections.
•Fast-Track Courts should decide the cases of tainted legislators quickly.
•Bringing greater Transparency in Campaign Financing is going to make it less attractive for Political Parties to involve Gangsters.
•The Election Commission of India(ECI) should have the Power to Audit the Financial Accounts of Political Parties.
•Political Parties Finances should be brought under the Right to Information (RTI) law.
•Broader Governance will have to improve for Voters to reduce the reliance on Criminal Politicians.
•The Election Commission must take adequate Measures to break the NEXUS between the Criminals and the Politicians.
The forms prescribed by the Election Commission for Candidates disclosing their Convictions,cases pending in Courts and so on in their Nomination Papers is a step in the right direction if it applied properly.
Corruption and Criminalisation of Politics is hitting at the roots of Democracy. Therefore,Parliament must take steps urgently to curb this Menace.Candidates and Political Parties must give wide Publicity to Criminal cases pending against her/him in the local Media,both print and electronic, after she/he files nomination to contest elections.
Currently,under the Representation of Peoples (RP)Act,lawmakers cannot contest Elections only after their Conviction in a Criminal case.
Section 8 of the Representation of the People (RP) Act,1951 disqualifies a person convicted with a sentence of two years or more from contesting elections.But those under trial continued to be eligible to contest elections.The Lily Thomas case (2013), however, ended this unfair.
The Judiciary protects the Parliamentary System from Criminalisation.
Efforts by SC in this regard:
The SC has repeatedly expressed concern about the purity of legislatures.
In 2002,it made it obligatory for all candidates to file an affidavit before the returning officer,disclosing Criminal cases pending against them.
The famous order to introduce NOTA was intended to make political parties think before giving Tickets to the tainted.
In its landmark Judgment,2014, the SC accepted the urgent need for Cleansing Politics of Criminalisation and directed all Subordinate Courts to decide on cases involving legislators within a year,or give reasons for not doing so to the Chief Justice of the High Court.
Some MPs in the current Lok Sabha face Criminal Charges.Of them,some face serious Criminal Charges.
Causes of Criminalization:
•Corruption
•Vote Bank.
•Lack of Governance
•Lack of Public Awakening,etc.
Ways to Curb the trend:
•Political Parties should themselves refuse tickets to the tainted.
•The RP Act should be amended to debar persons against whom cases of a heinous nature are pending from contesting elections.
•Fast-Track Courts should decide the cases of tainted legislators quickly.
•Bringing greater Transparency in Campaign Financing is going to make it less attractive for Political Parties to involve Gangsters.
•The Election Commission of India(ECI) should have the Power to Audit the Financial Accounts of Political Parties.
•Political Parties Finances should be brought under the Right to Information (RTI) law.
•Broader Governance will have to improve for Voters to reduce the reliance on Criminal Politicians.
•The Election Commission must take adequate Measures to break the NEXUS between the Criminals and the Politicians.
The forms prescribed by the Election Commission for Candidates disclosing their Convictions,cases pending in Courts and so on in their Nomination Papers is a step in the right direction if it applied properly.
Corruption and Criminalisation of Politics is hitting at the roots of Democracy. Therefore,Parliament must take steps urgently to curb this Menace.Candidates and Political Parties must give wide Publicity to Criminal cases pending against her/him in the local Media,both print and electronic, after she/he files nomination to contest elections.
