New Delhi:A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction to the Election Commission of India to take steps to ensure that every political party publishes the details regarding criminal cases of each candidate along with a reason for such selection on the Home Page of its official website in the spirit of the apex court judgment. The plea stated that on January 13, 2022, Samajwadi Party fielded notorious gangster Nahid Hasan from Kairana but neither published his criminal records in electronic, print and social media nor the reason of his selection within 48 hours as per the direction of top court.
The petition sought directions to the ECI to de-register the political party which violates the directions of the apex court.
It also sought direction to the ECI to ensure that every political party explains why it preferred a candidate with criminal cases and did not select a person without criminal antecedents within 48 hours.
The plea filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay also urged the ECI to ensure that every political party publishes the criminal cases within 48 hours in electronic, print and social media and to file a contempt case against the President whose party violates the directions of the apex court
"Nahid Hasan is in custody under the Gangster Act imposed on him around 11 months ago and he is the first candidate to file nomination in the first phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections. On February 13, 2021, Shamli Police imposed the Gangster Act on Nahid Hasan, the two-time MLA from Kairana. He has multiple criminal cases and is the mastermind behind the Hindu exodus from Kairana. There are many criminal cases including fraud and extortion and was declared a fugitive by Special MLA-MP Court," the plea stated.
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It said that even recognized political parties are giving ticket to dreaded criminals, and therefore, voters find it difficult to cast their vote freely and fairly, though it's a fundamental right under Article 19.