M A I N   N E W S

HC asks EC to inform on candidates’ past

NEW DELHI, Nov 2 (UNI) — In a significant decision to curb criminalisation of politics, the Delhi High Court today ruled that the Election Commission must gather information on criminality of all contesting candidates and make it available to public so that voters could make informed decisions.

It will now be incumbent upon a candidate standing for election to Parliament or state legislature to submit requisite information at the time of filing nomination papers with the Election Commission, said a Division Bench of Mr Justice Anil Dev Singh and Mr Justice M. K. Sharma.

“Furnishing of false information will result in prosecution of the candidate,” the judges said. “We direct that pre-election debates be held before elections which should be telecast by Doordarshan on its national network in which authorised representatives of political parties fielding the candidates present their manifestos, programmes, plans and background and capabilities of their candidates, and answer questions posed by the audience.”