Order dated 13th February, 2020 of Hon’ble Supreme Court in Contempt Petition (C) No. 2192 of 2018 in WP (C) No. 536 of 2011- Requirement of publishing details regarding candidates with pending criminal cases- regarding.

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA

To

            The Chief Electoral Officers of

             All States and UTs

Subject: -        Order dated 13^th February, 2020 of Hon’ble Supreme Court in Contempt Petition (C) No. 2192 of 2018 in WP (C) No. 536 of 2011- Requirement of publishing details regarding candidates with pending criminal cases- regarding.

Sir,

            I am directed to refer to the Commission’s letter of even No. dated 06.03.2020, on the above subject and addressed to recognized political parties, a copy of the letter endorsed to CEOs and to say that in pursuance of the directions given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in its Order dated 13.02.2020, if a political party fails to submit compliance report with the Election Commission, the Election Commission shall bring such non compliance by the political party concerned to the notice of the Supreme Court as being in contempt of the court’s order. Accordingly, the political parties shall publish information regarding candidates with criminal antecedents with the reason for selection of such individuals in Format C-7 within the given time and a compliance report shall be sent in Format C-8 to the Commission within 72 hours of the selection of the candidates.

          The CEOs are requested to obtain information with regard to the individuals with criminal antecedents, selected as candidates by the political parties, in the elections being held in their states, from the ROs concerned and furnish the same in compiled form, in the enclosed Format CA. The information shall be sent to the Principal Secretary/Secretary of the concerned Territorial Zone/Biennial Election Division in the Commission by the last date of making nominations for the said election so that information of non-compliance by the political parties may be submitted to the Supreme Court, in time.