CRIMINALIZATION OF POLITICS

Abstract

The criminalization of politics means the participation of criminals in politics. Means that persons with criminal background contest in the election and get selected as a member of parliament or state legislature. It is said that the politics had reached a stage where the lawmakers became the lawbreakers. In a democratic country like India, the increasing nexus between criminals and politics threatens the survival of true democracy. It is now becoming a trend, people with criminal backgrounds have more influence in politics than people without criminal backgrounds.
The increasing number of members with criminal records in parliament threatens the survival of any true democracy. Legal aspects/Constitutional provisions on disqualification of criminal candidates: The law commission in its 179th report recommended an amendment to the Representation of people act 1951. It suggested the people with criminal backgrounds should be disqualified for five years or until acquittal. It also recommended that the person who wants to contest the election must furnish details regarding any pending case, with the copy of the FIR/complaint, and also furnish details of all assets. But no action was taken on the recommendation by the government due to a lack of consensus amongst the political parties.