In a bid to check money power from influencing elections, the Election Commission (EC) suggests bringing under its scanner the sources of income of not only candidates but also their family members.
The EC, in an affidavit filed before a Bench led by Justice J. Chelameswar, said the Representation of the People Act should be amended so that disqualification for entering into government contracts should not be limited to just the candidates but also companies, trusts, firms, Hindu Undivided Family, etc.
The panel said the changes recommended in the law were meant as an antidote to “maladies caused by criminal antecedents of candidates and misuse of money”. The affidavit was based on a PIL filed by an NGO called Lok Prahari. — Legal Correspondent
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Greater transparency
The affidavit was based on a PIL filed by Lucknow-based NGO Lok Prahari for greater transparency in election financing of candidates and their source of money.
The Commission said it had already conveyed these recommendations to the government in September 2015.
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“Form 26 [on disclosure] should be amended to make it necessary to provide details of the sources of the income of the candidates, their spouses and dependants,” the EC submitted.
Lok Prahari had submitted that electorate is unable to make an informed choice if the increase in the candidates’ income was beyond his means or not.
PAN details
The existing framework only permits electors access to PAN details of the candidates, their spouses and dependants.
“It is desirable to include the act of filing false affidavits as offence in the list of corrupt practice under Section 123 of the RP Act in order to provide effective deterrent,” the affidavit said.
The Centre has sought time of six weeks to respond to the affidavit. The Bench has scheduled the matter for hearing on February 20.