POLITICS IS THE FIRST refuge of scoundrels. That piece of conventional wisdom may be contested by the few politicians who regard themselves as serving the public interest. Statistics tell a different tale: 1,581 MPs and MLAs across political parties face criminal prosecution. Nearly 34 per cent of MPs in the current Lok Sabha have criminal cases against them.
An alarmed Supreme Court last month directed the Narendra Modi government to set up special courts to hold “exclusive” trials against tainted lawmakers and “decide the cases within a year”.
The issue is more complicated than even the Supreme Court imagines. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has long published names of parliamentarians and state legislators who face criminal charges. Some of these charges are flimsy and relate to unlawful political morchas, crowd disturbances at campaign rallies and controversial speeches. But some charges are serious enough to warrant the Supreme Court’s intervention. The Election Commission of India (ECI) prescribes a six-year ban on convicted lawmakers. It wants to convert that into a life ban. Those affected by such a ban would include Lalu Prasad Yadav, chief of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), convicted in the fodder scam.
Politicians frequently claim that cases against them are politically motivated and fabricated. One of the founders of the Association for Democratic Reforms, Jagdeep Chhokhar, a tireless advocate of cleaning up Indian politics, has an answer to such apprehensions: “A simpler, and arguably, more effective step could be to ban all persons from contesting elections who have criminal cases pending against them, but with three safeguards against misuse. Only those cases should be considered (for disqualification from contesting) in which: (a) punishment is two (or three, or five) years or more; (b) the case has been registered at least six months before the announcement of elections; and (c) charges have been framed by a court of law. These are the safeguards that the Supreme Court has specified in 2002 but which have been forgotten in the din.”
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Is Leadership Without Hierarchies Possible?
LEADERSHIP IN THE current era is more challenging than ever before.
The Rise and Evolution of Coffee Culture in India
AS A BANGALORE native, South Indian filter ‘Kaapi’ has always been a significant part of our tradition.
The Daily Ground Goes Desi
Success in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities hinges on several key factors, with one of the most important being the ability to offer high-quality products at an accessible price point
Cracking The Indian Code
TARUN JAIN, CEO of Tim Hortons India believes in creating an experience at cafes by blending global quality, local flavours and affordability
Making Coffee the New Chai in India
Affordable, great-tasting coffee made fast-abCoffee is reshaping how India drinks coffee
Scripting A New Era Of Coffee In India
From a bootstrapped startup to international expansion, NOTHING BEFORE COFFEE is brewing its way to the top by challenging the giants of the coffee industry with innovation, personalisation, and sustainability
"Driven By A Younger Demographic, Coffee Culture Is On The Upswing"
SUNIL D'SOUZA, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Consumer Products, discusses the company's strategic growth in India's booming coffee market, focusing on premiumisation, innovation, and expanding consumer experiences both at home and in cafés, in this exclusive conversation with BW Businessworld's Tarannum Manjul
Fresh Brew, Big Ambitions
From startups to stores, Beanly's Samayesh Khanna and Rahul Jain elevate India's coffee culture by making freshly brewed coffee a daily delight
"On Track To Become India's Top Café Chain"
In an exclusive interview, RAJAT AGRAWAL, CEO of Barista Coffee, shared insights on the company's current market position, expansion strategies, and its response to growing competition
"Ensuring A Seamless Coffee Experience Outside The Cafe Is The Next Big Thing To Watch Out For"
In an exclusive conversation with BW Businessworld's Resham Suhail, Third Wave Coffee CEO RAJAT LUTHRA and its Co-founder AYUSH BATHWAL delve on how they are navigating the competitive landscape, going beyond retail and tapping changing consumer preferences