SC seeks reply from Centre in candidates' assets case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Ministry of Law and Justice for a detailed reply within two weeks on why it has not constituted a permanent mechanism to check unprecedented increase in assets of political party candidates.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi issued notice to the Ministry on a petition filed by NGO Lok Prahari, which had sought a direction in the matter.

During the hearing, the bench, also comprising Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, pulled up the government for not keeping a check on the increase in assets of candidates.

In February last year, the apex court had directed the Centre to create a permanent institutional mechanism to periodically collect data on legislators and their respective associates in order to examine whether there is a disproportionate increase in assets.

It had observed that the system created must also recommend action to be taken in appropriate cases.

The court had warned that the non-disclosure of assets and sources of income by the candidates would constitute a corrupt practice.