Election to be quashed if crime is not disclosed: SC

The Supreme Court Thursday said the suppression or non-disclosure of information about serious crimes by a candidate at the time of filing nomination interferes with the voters' right to make an informed choice and the election of such a candidate is liable to be set aside.

As a candidate has the special knowledge of the pending cases against him where cognizance has been taken or charges have been framed and there is non-disclosure on his part, it would amount to undue influence. Therefore, election is to be declared null and void by the election tribunal, said the apex court bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice P.C. Pant in their judgment Thursday.