Why in News ?

Publicity of Criminal Antecedents mandate. Revising the timeline for political parties and candidates to publish details of the criminal antecedents of the nominees decided by ECI.

• EC has made it clear that the first “publicity” of criminal records should be within first four days of the last date of withdrawal of candidature.

Revised Guidelines

• Timeline for Publicity
  • The candidates as well as the political parties, regarding candidates nominated by them, will publish the details of criminal antecedents, if any, in newspapers and television in following manner:
    • First publicity: Within first 4 days of last date of withdrawal.
    • Second publicity: Within 5th to 8th day of last date of withdrawal.
    • Third publicity: From 9th day till the last day of campaign, i.e. two days prior to date of poll.
• Uncontested Winner Candidates
  • the political parties who nominate them shall also publicise the criminal antecedents, if any, as prescribed for other contesting candidates and political parties.
• How it help ?
  • This will help in creating more awareness amongst the voters and other stakeholders.
  • This timeline will help the voters in exercising their choices in more informed manner.

Publicity of Criminal Antecedents

• Election Commission (EC) had issued directions making it compulsory for candidates contesting elections and the parties fielding them to advertise their criminal antecedents in TV and newspapers at least three times during electioneering in 2018
• Besides electoral reform related to publicity of criminal antecedents was set in motion by the Supreme Court (SC) in September, 2018.
• This will help to scrutinise contestant the why they had chosen them over those with clean records along with detailed information about candidates with criminal cases pending against them, including the nature of the offences.

Source : PIB

Topic

GS II : Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act

Current Affairs Compilation : 12 September 2020