No criminals in polls: Madras HC

Chennai: With a view to prevent persons with criminal background contesting election, the Madras high court has directed the state election commission to write to all political parties asking them not to field any candidate with criminal background and the political leaders are duty bound to see that such candidates are not chosen as candidates.

“Already the state election commission issued notification dated September 1, 2006, requiring details of candidates including their criminal background by an affidavit. It is the duty of the election commission to prevent criminal elements getting elected to Parliament, state Assembly and local bodies. In exercise of its Constitutional power, the state election commission will write to the recognised and registered political parties asking them not to field and support candidates with criminal background, as many political parties are shamelessly fielding habitual offenders, land grabbers, goondas as candidates of their parties”, said Justice N. Kirubakaran while passing orders on a petition from DMK and two others.

The judge said the candidates fielded by the political parties should be persons with integrity, honesty and a sense of commitment to serve the society.

However, invariably, many candidates, who contest the elections, were chosen by political parties, based on their affluence and muscle power and they were also found to be persons with criminal antecedents.

Of late, media reports reveal many elected representatives of local bodies belonging to various political parties, being done to death, due to their criminal antecedents or illegal mining operations or real estate business, the judge added.

The offices of local bodies are not places for profit making but for doing service to society. “The framers of our Constitution reposed faith in the political leaders and they are only elected by the people with utmost trust and faith in them. Therefore, it is their duty and responsibility to avoid criminal elements and choose appropriate candidates, who will be in a position to serve the public”, the judge added.