In what can be termed as a historic decision, the Supreme Court has directed political parties to upload on their websites the reasons for the selection of candidates with criminal antecedents. The Apex court also went on to say that Winnability can not justify choosing criminal candidates.
The Supreme Court said it would be mandatory for parties to upload the details of their candidates’ criminal history on their websites, on social media, and in newspapers within 48 hours of selection. Parties must submit the same details to the Election Commission within 72 hours, the court said.
The court had earlier even ordered that candidates publish their criminal details in the newspaper thrice after filing their nomination. But the Election Commission did not implement this order effectively. In September 2018, a five-judge constitution bench had asked the central government to immediately enact laws to ban those involved in serious crimes from contesting elections and becoming party officials.
This decision would have huge implications on almost all the political parties in the country.
