Theme : Parliament- structure, functioning and conduct of business, impact of criminalisation of politics., etc.
Paper:GS - 2
TABLE OF CONTENT
- Context
- Criminalization of politics
- Reasons for Criminalization of Politics
- Effects of Criminalization of Politics
- Reasons for increasing trend of criminalisation of politics
- Impact of increasing criminalisation of Politics
- Steps taken to tackle criminalisation of Politics
- Road Ahead
Context : There has been a spike in the number of candidates facing criminal charges in Phase 1 of Gujarat Assembly elections, with 21 percent of candidates declaring criminal cases against them in their affidavits as per a report released by Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Criminalization of politics :
- It means the participation of criminals in politics which includes that criminals can contest in the elections and get elected as members of the Parliament and the State legislature.
- It takes place primarily due to the nexus between politicians and criminals.
- As per media reports of February 2022: Number of pending criminal cases against sitting and former MLAs and MPs had risen to close to 5,000 towards the end of December 2021.
Reasons for Criminalization of Politics :
- Lack of Enforcement
- Vested Interests
- Use of Muscle and Money Power
Effects of Criminalization of Politics :
- Against the Principle of Free and Fair Election
- Affecting Good Governance
- Affecting Integrity of Public Servants
- Causes Social Disharmony
Reasons for increasing trend of criminalisation of politics :
- Political control of state machinery
- Corruption
- Vote-bank politics
- Loopholes in the legal system
Impact of increasing criminalisation of Politics :
- Good governance gets seriously undermined
- Control of bureaucrats by political bosses: They subvert the system to serve their interests.
- Bureaucratic system: It ceases to resist corruption and often embraces it to carry out the diktats of criminal political bosses.
- Three main pillars of our democracy(Parliament, judiciary and executive): They get progressively weakened, and the fundamental concept of a democratic system gets subverted.
Steps taken to tackle criminalisation of Politics :
- Vohra Committee(1993): It warned and said, “some political leaders become the leaders of these gangs/armed senas and, over the years, get themselves elected to local bodies, state assemblies and the national Parliament.”
- Supreme Court(2002): Every candidate contesting election has to declare his criminal and financial records along with educational qualifications.
- Supreme Court(2005): Sitting MP or MLA will be disqualified from contesting the election if convicted and sentenced for imprisonment for two years or more by a court of law.
- 12 special courts for a year by government(2017): To fast track the trial of criminal cases against MPs
Road Ahead :
- Timely corrective measures need to be put in place without any further delay, for the common man to have faith in the fairness of the system.
- Time-bound justice delivery system: firmer steps by the Election Commission of India (EC) and a proper strengthening of relevant laws can cleanse the body politic of this evil.
- Fast-tracking the judicial process: It will weed out the corrupt as well as criminal elements in the political system.
- All political parties should come together: develop a consensus on keeping criminals out of the system.
- Leadership at world level: As we assume leadership at several levels on the world stage, it is important for India to showcase itself as a model democracy and the global moral compass.
- Mandatory declaration of assets and existing criminal charges in self-sworn affidavits to the EC, prior to elections, has brought in some degree of transparency.
- Fast tracking trials and expediting the judicial process through a time-bound justice delivery system.
- Nexus: between crime, money and muscle power should be on check regularly.
- The growing dependence of political parties on criminals for muscle power and “electability” must be stopped.
- Parliament, judiciary and executive: They will have to find common ground to put firm mechanisms in place to deal with increased criminalisation of politics.
FAQs :
-
What are the Reasons of Criminalization of Politics ?
ANS.
- Lack of Enforcement
- Vested Interests
- Use of Muscle and Money Power
-
What is Criminalization of Politics ?
ANS.
- It means the participation of criminals in politics which includes that criminals can contest in the elections and get elected as members of the Parliament and the State legislature.
- It takes place primarily due to the nexus between politicians and criminals.