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CEC wants candidates charged in
a court a law barred from polls

Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill Thursday said candidates who have charges pending against them in a court of law should be barred from contesting elections.

"It is now up to the government, political parties and Parliament to accept the suggestion," Gill told Karan Thapar on Doordarshan's 'Talk Back' show.

Asked whether such a measure would be justifiable, since the person concerned could be acquitted by the court, he said the move would form part of "reasonable restriction" as laid down by the Supreme Court.

Under the present law, a person convicted by a court to two years' jail term can be barred from contesting polls for six years.

On the Delhi high court order that antecedents of candidates contesting polls should be verified to prevent criminalisation of politics, the CEC felt it could be difficult for the commission to implement the directive.

On his suggestion that a governor should run a neutral administration during elections, Gill said such a step would be possible only if appointments to constitutional offices were above board and Opposition parties had confidence in the person holding the gubernatorial post.

PTI

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