Decriminalise politics: Sampath

New Delhi, Candidates facing grave charges of murder and other crimes should be disqualified from contesting elections in a bid to decriminalise politics, said outgoing Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath.The commission has made recommendations to the government against candidates facing cases in which charges are framed by courts which could attract a sentence of five years. It is for the government to bring legislative amendments to the electoral law to achieve these objectives, said Sampath.“It is not sufficient that people are disqualified on conviction. Earlier, even after conviction, the legislator was allowed to run the rest of the term by filing an appeal. That was remedied by the SC order on disqualification upon conviction. But what we are asking is why allow the person who is likely to be convicted later creating a vacancy, preventing even at the contest stage (criminal candidates) with of course some safeguards,” he said.

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