ECI to take cognisance of false information in poll affidavit

ECI to now take cognisance of complaints of false affidavits by candidates during the nomination process and refer such matters to the relevant investigating authorities on a case-to-case basis.

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India on Tuesday had its full Commission meeting headed by Chief Election Commissioner of India Sunil Arora and attended by Election Commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra, assisted by senior officials of the commission.

The ECI said it will take cognizance of complaints of a false affidavit by the candidate during the nomination process and refer such matters to relevant investigating authorities on case to case basis. The complaint regarding the omission of information in election affidavit is normally filed in courts.

"Filing of false affidavit by candidates during the nomination process in terms of false or incomplete information is a key challenge as it undermines the right of voters to be fully informed about their political representatives," The ECI said in a statement.

"The commission has been working on reforms to consider including the filing of a false affidavit as a corrupt practice. The the commission has decided to robustly address this challenge to further insure free fair and ethical elections in the country", it added.

The present penalty for misinformation in an affidavit before election commission is imprisonment of up to six months or fine or both a candidate contesting an election has to file an affidavit called Form 26 which he or she has to furnish information on assets liabilities educational qualification and details of criminal cases if any.