Patna, July 08: Expressing concern over large-scale entry of criminals into politics, the Patna High Court today ordered Bihar government to furnish list of candidates who have filed nomination for the July 10 elections to 24 legislative council seats while evading arrest. The order was passed by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ravi S Dhavan and Justice R N Prasad on a public interest litigation filed by Bihar Rajya Panchayat Parishad, a registered body working for enhanced empowerment of the local self-governance.
The judges expressed concern as to how candidates involved in criminal cases had managed to file nominations by concealing their criminal records and instructed the government to apprise the court about the steps initiated to identify such elements and action taken against them.
Additional advocate general S K Ghosh told the court that the Patna district administration had cancelled nominations of 13 persons having criminal records and arrested one nominee who was evading arrest in several criminal cases.
Large-scale entry of criminals into the fray would only encourage criminalisation of politics and harm the spirit of local self-governance, petitioner's counsel M P Gupta said.
The judges noted that criminalisation of politics was stunting the growth of democratic institutions and it should be stopped forthwith.
The court will hear the matter again tomorrow.

Bureau Report