New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today criticised the Centre for not taking a stand on barring criminals from politics.
Hearing a 2011 petition on banning criminals from contesting elections, the court admonished the government for delaying its response despite 'several opportunities' and gave a six-week deadline as a "last chance".
The government argued that any provision to bar chargesheeted persons from contesting elections could be misused. To which, the court said it was the government's job to ensure against misuse.
"We agree that there are multiple reasons for misuse. The object is to bring purity in elections. We don't want criminals to enter the portals of legislature but it has to be done by legislation," the court said.
Political parties across the spectrum have objected to the Supreme Court's twin rulings last month which barred those in jail from contesting elections and said MPs and MLAs convicted of a crime would be disqualified immediately.
The government filed a review petition last week against the disqualification of convicted MPs and MLAs, after parties said these could be used by the party in power or the police to settle scores.
The Election Commission told the court that to prevent misuse, only charges framed at least six months before the elections should be considered. The panel had also suggested that those charged with more serious offences like murder or rape, or those found guilty by commissions of inquiry should be barred from polls.
But the petitioner said the poll panel's recommendations have been rejected by the Parliamentary panel and politicians were ganging up to block the proposal.