Looking beyond the SC ruling : Voters should now take up the onus
- Sangai Express Editorial :: July 13, 2013 -

Manipur Assembly building

The Supreme Court of India has made its stand clear.

No criminals should be allowed to defile the sanctity of the Parliament and the State Assemblies.

In striking down a provision in the electoral law that protects a convicted MP or MLA from disqualification on the ground of pendency of appeal in higher Courts, the apex Court of the country has rung out the message that the 'pendency of appeal in a higher Court' can no longer be an alibi for politicians who have been convicted by a Court of the land.

A welcome move, a move which should perhaps have come 20 or 30 years earlier, but nonetheless important.

In as much as the ruling of the Supreme Court is significant and will have far reaching impact, it is also important to note and therefore question why politicians, who have criminal charges against them continue to get elected.

As per the findings of the Association for Democratic Reforms, an NGO, there are at present 1,460 sitting MPs and MLAs facing criminal charges in various cases.

The findings may not be exhaustive and all inclusive and it would not be surprising if the number is higher than the projected figure.

Criminalisation of politics is a term not coined out of the blue and this has been well reflected in the judgement of the Supreme Court.

Now that the highest Court in the country has made its stand clear, the ball must now pass to the people, the voters and obviously the system under which elections are held.

In the recent past, India has seen the Election Commission of India coming out with a series of steps to cleanse the rot that had seeped into the process of election.

Paid news coming under scrutiny, a sharp tab on the expenditures of the candidates, the stern action taken up against recalcitrant and incompetent officials deputed for poll duty are all examples that come to mind.

And the latest ruling from the Supreme Court perfectly complements the steps taken up by the Election Commission of India.

One of the most significant rulings passed by the Supreme Court, as far as protecting the sanctity of Parliament and the State Assemblies is concerned.

However it does not and should not end here.

An exception ? : Classes underway at an Anganwadi CentreFor the judgement of the Supreme Court to have any concrete meaning, it is important to look beyond the Court and focus on the trend associated with election.

How faithfully do political parties and their candidates adhere to the electoral rules laid down by the Election Commission of India ? Take note, the convictions or criminal charges filed against politicians or candidates are just the proverbial tip of the iceberg of the gross violations of not just the law of the land but also the electoral rules laid down by the Election Commission of India.

Illustrating a case here may drive home the point more succinctly.

In the last Assembly election in Manipur, the expenditure cap for each candidate was Rs 8 lakh, as fixed by the Election Commission of India.

With no concrete evidences, no cases were taken to the Court.

But the truth at the ground reality told a totally different story.

A story, which makes it all that more important for the people to look beyond the ruling of the Supreme Court.

For starters, why do dubious characters, known more for flexing their money and muscle powers, rather than administrative skills, keep getting elected ? This question should be self explanatory, especially in a place like Manipur, where dubious characters have been scoring victories at the hustings.

A lesson for the voters and the people that they need to look beyond their immediate personal gratification, which come in the form of putting their right to vote to sale to the highest bidder.

The Supreme Court has had its say.

Now is the time for the voters, the people to reciprocate and acknowledge a judgement which will have far reaching impact on their day to day lives.

The ruling of the Supreme Court is not only about cleansing Parliament and State Assemblies but should also be seen as making the voters realise their responsibility.