This refers to the report, “SC: Poll candidates must disclose source of income” (February 17). Recently, while delivering a judgement on a public interest litigation, which sought effective measures to prevent politicians from amassing disproportionate assets, the Supreme Court bench remarkably said that sudden accretion of wealth and assets of a legislator and his associates is a matter of concern for the citizens and voters of any truly democratic society. There has been a quantum jump of assets of some MPs/MlAs, their kin and associates, by more than 500 per cent between two elections. The apex court’s ruling, that the candidates should henceforth reveal their family's and associate's assets along with the source of income while filing nomination for contesting polls and not doing so will amount to “corrupt practice” warranting disqualification, is landmark in cleaning electoral politics.
Besides, the top court also raised questions on convicted politicians, who have been heading political parties and deciding electoral candidates. The Court decided to examine if the Election Commission can be empowered to derecognise such a political party. The Election Commission needs to be empowered to derecognise political parties and debar persons facing criminal cases from contesting the election. The process of lawbreakers becoming lawmakers through the democratic process must be checked.