New Delhi, Sep 11 (UNI) Election Commission on Friday said that it has decided that 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 continuation of the detailed instructions dated 10.10.2018 and 6.3.2020 issued by ECI in the matter of publicity of criminal antecedents by the contesting candidates as well as by the political parties nominating such candidates, it was discussed at length in the Commission’s meeting today,’ the Election Commission said in a statement.
‘Commission decided to further streamline the instructions concerning publicity of criminal antecedents by candidates concerned and by the political parties, who nominate them for elections. Commission has always emphasised on this moral yardstick for overall betterment of electoral democracy,’ the statement said.
‘As per the revised guideline, 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,’ the Election Commission said in a statement.
First publicity: Within first 4 days of last date of withdrawal; Second publicity: Within 5th to 8th day of last date of withdrawal and Third publicity: From 9th day till the last day of campaign, i.e. two days prior to date of poll)
This timeline will help the voters in exercising their choices in more informed manner, the Election Commission said. Regarding the publicity by uncontested winning candidates as well as the political parties who nominate them, it is clarified that uncontested winner candidates as well as the political
parties who nominate them will also publicise the criminal antecedents, if any, as prescribed for other contesting candidates and political parties.
As decided by the Commission, a Compendium of all instructions and formats issued so far, in this matter, is being published for the benefit of stakeholders. This will help in creating more awareness amongst the voters and other stakeholders. All instructions, in this regard, must be complied by the contesting candidates with criminal antecedents and the political parties regarding their nominated candidates. These modified instructions will apply with immediate effect.
