Plea demands lifetime ban on convicted persons from contesting polls
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a petition
seeking to de-criminalise and de-communalise politics through electoral
reforms.
The public interest litigation (PIL)
petition has demanded a lifetime ban on convicted persons from
contesting polls, forming a political party or becoming party
office-bearers.
A Bench led by Chief Justice H.L.
Dattu ordered that the petition be tagged along with an identical one
already pending before the court for hearing.
“It is
impossible to achieve the golden goals set out in the Preamble of our
Constitution without de-criminalisation and de-communalisation of
politics and without eradication of corruption, casteism and nepotism
from the electoral system,” the petition filed by lawyer Ashwini
Upadhyay contended.
“Why only a six-year ban on
persons convicted of serious crimes and corruption? Why not lifetime ban
on contesting the election, forming own political party and becoming
office-bearers of registered political parties against convicted persons
involved in serious crime and loot?” Mr. Upadhyay said.
“Why
not make minimum qualification and maximum age limit mandatory criteria
for contesting Parliament/Assembly election?” the PIL petition asked.
‘Misuse of right’
The
petitioner claimed that political leaders were misusing the freedom of
speech, knowingly and intentionally for political gains, not only during
election campaign but also before the mass media.
“Why only a six-year ban on persons convicted of serious crimes and corruption?
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