Madras High Court today ordered issuance of notice to the Election Commission on a petition seeking direction to electoral authorities to publish details of criminal record and assets filed by contesting candidates before public offices.
The petitioner Anti-Corruption Movement submitted that it was necessary to publish contents in brief such as criminal cases pending, convictions, wealth details filed through affidavits by candidates at public offices like Village Panchayat, Tehsildar, BDO, RDO, Collectorate and polling stations to enable voters to know about the candidates they would be electing.
The PIL quoted a judgement of Supreme Court which said citizens have a right under Article 19 of the Constitution to know about their representative to whom they would like to elect.
The bench comprising Chief Justice R K Agrawal and Justice K Ravichandra Babu ordered issuance of notice to EC and adjourned for further hearing.
