New Delhi: A lawyer has filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and several political leaders for not fully adhering to the apex court's order directing political parties to publish criminal antecedents of their candidates.
Brajesh Singh, a Delhi-based lawyer has filed the plea against CEC Arora, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, BJP leader BL Santhosh, Bihar Chief Electoral officer HR Srinivas, JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi and other political leaders.
The petitioner alleged that dreaded criminals were allowed to contest the Bihar elections and their criminal history was not published in newspapers which the court had directed in its order.
Earlier on February 13, the Supreme Court had directed political parties to publish their candidates' criminal history along with reasons for which they were allowed to contest the elections.
The court had ordered that it should be widely published in local and national newspapers within 48 hours of selection or within two weeks before the first date of filing nomination. Political parties had to then report it to the Election Commission of India within 72 hours.
Read: Bihar Polls: 34% phase II candidates have criminal cases, RJD tops list
The judgment had come in response to a PIL filed by Supreme Court advocate and BJP member Ashwini Upadhyay.
According to the petitioner, details of the candidates were published in just one Hindi paper and reasons for selection were popularity, educational background, social work, cases filed due to political rivalry, among others.
RJD has the maximum of such candidates followed by BJP. Total 164 out of 353 candidates have been allowed to contest despite their criminal history, the petitioner said.
The petitioner also sought directions to the Election Commission of India to take action against political parties for not adhering to the apex court's orders.
