Why Central Govt. Not Enacted Law To Prohibit Candidates With Criminal Backgrounds From Contesting Elections, As Observed By SC?: Asks Madras HC [Read Order]

Noting that persons with criminal background are becoming policy makers in many parts of the country, the Madras High Court last week demanded from the Centre why it does not enact a law to prohibit candidates with criminal background from contesting elections to the Parliament as well as State legislatures as suggested by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on September 25, 2018. Noting that persons with criminal background are becoming policy makers in many parts of the country, the Madras High Court last week demanded from the Centre why it does not enact a law to prohibit candidates with criminal background from contesting elections to the Parliament as well as State legislatures as suggested by the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on September 25, 2018 in Public Interest Foundation v. Union of India. Reiterating that persons with criminal backgrounds should not become policy makers, the bench cited a 2019 report of the Association for Democratic Reforms - "Lok Sabha Elections 2019 - Analysis of Background, Financial, Education, Gender and other details of the winners", which revealed that 43% elected M.P.s have declared their criminal cases. "Therefore, the Central Government has to come out with a comprehensive legislation to prohibit persons with criminal background from contesting elections to Parliament, State Legislatures and local bodies as observed by the Constitution Bench of Hon'ble Supreme Court in Public Interest Foundation and others vs. Union of India and another on 25th September 2018", stated the bench.