SC no to plea against tainted candidates

New Delhi, January 21

The SC today refused to entertain a Delhi BJP leader’s PIL seeking a direction to the Election Commission to restrain political parties from fielding candidates with criminal antecedents in polls.

A Bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, however, said petitioner Ashwini Upadhyay was free to submit a representation to the commission on the issue. “We are not inclined to entertain this petition. However, it will be open to the petitioner to approach the EC by giving a representation,” it said.

Upadhyay wanted direction to the EC “to restrict parties to field candidates with criminal antecedents in serious offences”. He said while issuing notification for Assembly elections in five states on October 10, the EC did not amend the Election Symbol Order, 1968, and the model code of conduct to restrict parties from fielding tainted candidates. — TNS