Supreme Court asked to ban convicted politicians from contesting elections
What's the story
In an attempt to decriminalize Indian politics, the Election Commission has asked the Supreme Court to ban convicted parliamentarians and MLAs from contesting elections. The EC also urged the Centre to amend the law to successfully implement the ban. The apex court in turn has directed the Centre to set up special fast-track courts to expedite the pending trials against politicians.
Directive
Centre to provide details of criminal cases involving politicos
SC has given the Centre six weeks to formulate a plan and earmark funds for setting up fast-track courts. It has also asked the central government to provide details of the number of criminal cases involving politicians that have been disposed of within one year, total number of such cases lodged between 2014 and 2017, and the acquittals and convictions made.
Details
1,581 cases pending against netas as per 2014 election nominations
The Centre has agreed to furnish the information as sought by the SC and said that such special courts can be set up. The SC bench, comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Navin Sinha, said the directive was "in the interest of nation." There were 1,581 cases pending against politicians, as per the nominations filed by them during the 2014 election.
Background check
31% of Modi's cabinet has criminal cases registered against them
Twenty-four of the 78 Union ministers (or 31%) of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government have criminal cases registered against them, according to a 2016 report by the Association for Democratic Reforms and National Election Watch. Fourteen of these ministers in the union cabinet (18%) have declared serious criminal offences such as murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping and crimes against women (rape, molestation).