A bench headed by Justice R.F. Nariman said the parties would have to clarify on reasons for selecting candidates with pending criminal cases and upload this information on their websites.
The top court also observed that political parties will have to submit a compliance report within 72 hours, to the Election Commission, after selecting candidates having pending criminal cases.
The order from the top court came on a contempt plea filed by Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, raising critical issues due to increase in criminalisation of politics.
The plea claimed the directions given by the apex court in its September 2018 verdict, which specified guidelines to disclosure of criminal antecedents by candidates, is not being followed in letter and spirit.
The top court also directed that political parties would have to publish this information on their social media platforms like
The apex court directed the poll body to apprise the court if it were to come across failure in compliance with its directions.
--IANS
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