Criminals can't stand for elections: EC

Criminals -- once convicted -- cannot become politicians. That, in effect, was what the Election Commission decreed when it decided to reject nomination papers of those convicted by any court of law.

Chief Election Commissioner Dr M S Gill said all states and Union territories have been notified, and chief electoral officers directed to enforce the order from Thursday.

Dr Gill told newspersons that the three-member commission, at its meeting, unanimously decided to strictly enforce the existing laws under the Representation of People's Act, 1951.

He said the commission, in its communication to the states and chief electoral officers, has referred to Article 324 of the Constitution and judgments of three high courts directed that the disqualification of candidates under the said section would commence from the date of conviction, regardless of whether the person intending to be a candidate is out on bail or not.

The law will, however, not be applicable to sitting members of Parliament and assemblies since they are covered under the section 8(4) of the RP Act.

The Commission is taking these steps in the run-up to the elections coming up in eight state assemblies -- Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. This way, it hopes to keep criminals out of politics.