The Madras High Court on Friday orally asked why there are no age restrictions in India for those contesting elections or the number of tenures a candidate is eligible for.
Hearing a petition filed by S.V. Subbaiah, a voter of Thatharavathur Village in Pollachi, seeking a direction to the Election Commission requiring candidates contesting in his constituency to disclose information about their health [while contesting the polls], Justice N. Kirubakaran observed, “While there are limits to tenure in the US, why is there no such requirements or restrictions in India?”
‘Hale and hearty candidate’
Mr. Subbaiah, in his petition, said a medical report of candidates would enable him to elect a hale and hearty candidate to ensure ‘healthy’ representation. He further said that an elected representative, who was the voice of a voter, might become bedridden after the elections with some chronic illness, preventing him from attending the sittings of the forum for the rest of the tenure.
On Friday, the Additional Solicitor General G. Rajagopalan sought time from the court to get suggestions from the Law Commission on the issue. Impleading the National and State Law Commissions as respondents, the judge posted the matter for hearing on April 13. Earlier, he suo motu impleaded the Centre and the Election Commission as respondents, observing that the issue could not be confined to just local body polls.
