Centre welcomes judgement on criminalisation in politics

The Supreme Court order urging Parliament to cure the malignancy of criminalization of politics is a welcome move, but issues like politically motivated cases have to be considered, a senior government functionary said Tuesday.

Reacting to the apex court verdict leaving it to Parliament to bring in a law in this regard, the functionary said that the government will study the order in detail and decide the next course of action.

He pointed out that several of the directions given by the top court has already been implemented, including the filing of affidavits by candidates giving details of criminal cases against them.

"There are several issues involved, including politically motivated cases against politicians. The government will study the verdict in detail, but the reaction would come from the party (BJP)," he said when asked about the government's response.

He said the verdict is welcome as it seeks to cleanse the polity of criminal elements.

The apex court on Tuesday left it to Parliament to "cure the malignancy" of criminalization of politics by making a law to ensure that persons facing serious criminal cases do not enter the political arena as the "polluted stream of politics" needs to be cleansed.

Holding that criminalization of politics is an "extremely disastrous and lamentable situation", the apex court said this "unsettlingly increasing trend" in the country has the propensity to "send shivers down the spine of a constitutional democracy".