Indian election candidate must disclose criminal past: Election Commission
They must publish in newspapers and broadcast it on TV during their campaign
Candidates with criminal pasts in Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections are required to publish information in this regard in newspapers and broadcast it through television channels on three occasions during the campaign period, the Election Commission said on Saturday.
It also said that a political party that puts up candidates with criminal antecedents is also required to publish information about the criminal background of its candidates, both on its website and also in newspapers and television channel on three occasions. "Candidates with criminal antecedents are required to publish information in this regard in newspapers and through television channels on three occasions during the campaign period," the Election Commission said in its press release declaring the schedule of assembly polls in the two states.
"A political party that sets up candidates with criminal antecedents is also required to publish information about the criminal background of its candidates, both in its website and also in newspapers and television channel on three occasions," added the poll panel.
It said that instructions in this regard had been issued last year in October. "This requirement is in pursuance of the judgment of the Supreme Court," the release said.