{"id":81842,"date":"2026-08-18T18:10:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T12:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=81842"},"modified":"2026-08-18T18:12:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T12:42:49","slug":"criminalisation-of-politics-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/18-08-2026\/criminalisation-of-politics-in-india","title":{"rendered":"4,000 cases Pending Against MPs, MLAs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Polity and Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>As per the report submitted before the Supreme Court, a total of 4,192 cases against sitting and former MPs and MLAs are pending trial across the country.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Chief Ministers of 14 of 28 states<\/strong> have criminal cases against them pending trials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"b3c8d0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #b3c8d0;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"539\" height=\"345\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-147.png\" alt=\"case status\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-81843\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-147.png 539w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-147-300x192.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 539px) 100vw, 539px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Reasons of Criminalisation of Politics<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Weak Disqualification Laws:<\/strong> As per the Representation of the <strong>People Act, 1951 (RPA) <\/strong>disqualification of the candidates occurs only after conviction. Since trials take years, candidates contest multiple elections before any judgment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Money and Muscle Power:<\/strong> Candidates with financial resources and local influence are seen as \u201cwinnable\u201d candidates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low Voter Awareness: <\/strong>Affidavits disclose candidate details, but many voters remain unaware or vote on caste\/religious lines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Party Complicity:<\/strong> Parties at times justify the candidature on the basis of popularity and electoral chances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Judicial Delays:<\/strong> Due to the frequent adjournments and long duration of judicial processes criminals escape conviction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Impact of Criminalisation of Politics<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Erosion of Democratic Values: <\/strong>It undermines the principle of free and fair elections and voters are left with restricted choices, weakening the spirit of representative democracy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Corruption: <\/strong>The presence of criminal elements escalates<strong> electoral malpractices<\/strong> such as voter <strong>intimidation, booth capturing, and the use of black money<\/strong> in campaigns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Decline of Public Trust: <\/strong>Repeated election of tainted representatives, lead to <strong>declining voter turnout<\/strong> and weakening people\u2019s faith in democratic institutions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Distortion of Policy-Making:<\/strong> Elected representatives use political power to protect personal and criminal networks and divert policy-making away from public interest<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Committee Recommendations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998) &amp; 2nd ARC (2007)<\/strong> recommended partial state funding of elections to curb the use of black money and reduce corruption.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution<\/strong> in its <strong>2002 <\/strong>report recommended measures to enhance the accountability of political parties, including the statutory audit of party expenses and the disclosure of candidates&#8217; assets and liabilities.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Law Commission&#8217;s 244th Report (2014)<\/strong> recommended disqualifying politicians from contesting elections as soon as charges are framed against them for offenses that carry a maximum punishment of<strong> five years or more.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The report specifically recommended <strong>expediting trials for sitting MPs and MLAs<\/strong> by establishing fast-track courts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Supreme Court Interventions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Union of India v. Association for Democratic Reforms 2002: <\/strong>The Supreme Court upheld a High Court orde<strong>r mandating the Election Commission to obtain and disclose to the public background information relating to candidates <\/strong>running for office.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The information includes information on their<strong> assets, criminal records, and educational background.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It held that the<strong> right to know about public officials is derived from the constitutional right to freedom of expression.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In Lily Thomas v. Union of India (2013), <\/strong>the Court ruled that any sitting MP, MLA, or MLC would be <strong>immediately disqualified <\/strong>upon conviction for a crime with a sentence of <strong>two years or more.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In<strong> Public Interest Foundation v. Union of India (2018),<\/strong> the Court directed political parties to publicize the criminal records of candidates, detailing the nature of offences and charges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rambabu Singh Thakur v. Sunil Arora (2020): <\/strong>The Supreme Court of India ordered political parties to publish details of candidates with pending criminal cases on their websites, social media, and in newspapers, along with the reasons for their selection, <strong>within 48 hours <\/strong>of candidate selection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>SC Directions for Speedy Trials:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2017, the <strong>Supreme Court ordered the setting up of 12 special courts<\/strong> in 10 states, UTs for speedy trials in criminal cases involving legislators.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2018, it directed that<strong> one designated Sessions Court and one designated Magisterial Court<\/strong> be identified in every district to try cases on priority.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In 2023, the <strong>SC directed the Chief Justices of all HCs<\/strong> to register suo motu cases to monitor the <strong>early disposal of such cases<\/strong> and empowered special benches to issue directions for expeditious trials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Despite the Supreme court\u2019s directions, the <strong>pendency had remained at roughly the same level.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>130th Constitution Amendment Bill<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Background: <\/strong>The bill was introduced in <strong>2025 <\/strong>and was subsequently referred to a <strong>Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) <\/strong>following intense opposition protests.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Major Features: <\/strong>The Bill provides for the removal of a minister if he\/she is accused of an offence <strong>punishable with five or more years of imprisonment,<\/strong> and has been <strong>arrested and detained for 30 consecutive days.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If the <strong>Prime Minister or a Chief Minister remains in custody for 30 consecutive days,<\/strong> they must resign; otherwise, they would automatically cease to hold office on the 31st day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The removal can be directed by the President or Governor <\/strong>upon the advice of the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister, respectively, or automatically on the 31st day of detention.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>At present,<\/strong> ministers leave office through <strong>resignation, dismissal by the Prime Minister or Chief Minister, or disqualification<\/strong> following conviction under existing laws.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The criminal background of the elected representatives <strong>undermines democratic governance, weakens the rule of law, and erodes public trust in institutions.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The issue needs to be addressed with the <strong>electoral reforms, speedy trials of the cases, transparency in political funding and informed voter participation.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: IE<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> As per the report submitted before the Supreme Court, a total of 4,192 cases against sitting and former MPs and MLAs are pending trial across the country. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Chief Ministers of 14 of 28 states have criminal cases against them pending trials. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/18-08-2026\/criminalisation-of-politics-in-india\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81842"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81842\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81846,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81842\/revisions\/81846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}