The Hindu : Candidates' past should be known for right choice: EC

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 29, 2002

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Candidates' past should be known for right choice: EC

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI JUNE 28. The Election Commission today said that it had been pointed out by the apex court in its May 2 order that for electors to make the right choice, it was essential that the past of the candidates should not be kept in the dark, as it was not in the interest of democracy and well-being of the country.

The court had said that the little man of this country should have the basic right to know the full particulars of a candidate who was to represent him in Parliament or Legislature, where laws to bind his/her liberty and property might be enacted.

The Commission has, therefore, called for the following information on affidavit from each candidate as a necessary part of his nomination paper in the prescribed format:

"whether the candidate is convicted/acquitted/discharged of any criminal offence in the past, if any, whether he is punished with imprisonment or fine,''

"prior to six months of filing of nomination, whether the candidate is accused in any pending case, of any offence punishable with imprisonment for two years or more, and in which charge is framed or cognizance taken by the court of law, if so, the details thereof,''

"the assets (immovable, movable, bank balances etc.) of the candidates and of his/her spouse and that of dependents,''

"liabilities, if any, particularly whether there are any over dues of any public financial institution or Government dues'' and "the educational qualifications of the candidate.''

The Commission said that non-furnishing of the affidavit or furnishing wrong and incomplete information by any candidate shall be considered to be violation of the Supreme Court's order and his/her nomination shall be liable to be rejected by the Returning Officer.

The information furnished by the candidates shall be disseminated by the Returning Officers by displaying on the notice board and giving it to the print and electronic media.

The Commission has made it clear that the candidate shall not be required to file any other affidavit in pursuance of its earlier order dated August 28, 1997.

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