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EC wants accused in criminal cases debarred

The Election Commission has proposed to debar from contesting elections, persons against whom charges have been framed in cases entailing a prison term of at least five years, Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill said today.

Inaugurating a one-day conference of state election commissioners, Dr Gill said this important measure to stem the growing criminalisation of politics would be discussed at an all-party conference being convened by the Election Commission on April 29.

Admitting that opposition had been expressed to this measure by certain political leaders including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Dr Gill said the latter's contention that charges could be quickly laid and framed was a legitimate concern. However, political parties need to address themselves to this and other measures to halt the menace of criminals subverting the democratic process, he added.

In another measure to ensure the purity of the electoral process, the Election Commission has sought powers to chargesheet and punish erring and defiant government employees involved in the electoral process. Dr Gill regretted that successive governments since that of P V Narasimha Rao had refused to accept this and the issue was now before the Supreme Court.

Lauding the crucial role played by state election commissions in strengthening grassroots democracy by holding panchayat and municipal elections, the CEC said they were performing their role in the face of tough conditions.

Perhaps with the ongoing tussle with the Uttar Pradesh government over the holding of panchayat and municipal elections in mind, Dr Gill said in some states, the commissions were struggling to even announce local body elections.

''These are birth pangs, and our democratic process will overcome these. And, when democracy is healthy at the local level, it provides a firm foundation for the rest of the superstructure of assembly and parliamentary elections,'' he added.

Pledging the Election Commission's support for state commissions, Dr Gill said the latter should be provided adequate and consistent financial and administrative support. Also, their status, equivalent to the high court, should be maintained as it was important to build up institutions.

Also, it was important that state commissions use the electoral rolls prepared by the Election Commission for local body elections also. The use of the centrally prepared electoral rolls, which were fully computerised and available on CD-ROM, would go a long way in eliminating malpractices, he added.

Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh said it was necessary to ponder over the fact that while the democratic process was becoming more sophisticated, the democratic product was getting worse.

UNI

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