New Delhi: The Election Commission has mooted a proposal to change laws to disqualify poll candidates who have not cleared their water and power bills.
The poll watchdog has asked the law ministry to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1951, so that such defaulters can be barred from contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
This will require an amendment to the chapter-III of the Representation of People Act which deals with electoral offences. A new clause will have to be inserted therein for disqualification “on the ground of being a defaulter of public dues”.
The matter is pending with the law ministry, a senior official said. The Delhi High Court had asked the Commission to ensure that candidates contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections furnish a “no dues certificate” from the agency providing electricity, water and telephone connections to their accommodation.
Since February, 2016, the Commission had been insisting on an additional affidavit in the prescribed format along with the ‘No Demand Certificate’ from the agencies providing these services.
A ‘no rent due’ certificate is also required in case the candidate had been occupying government accommodation during the 10 years leading to the polls.
The EC had also proposed that political parties, as a pre-condition for fielding candidates, furnish an affidavit stating that they have not defaulted on dues on account of usages of public utilities.
