Plea in SC to ban convicts from heading political parties

A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court to ban convicted persons from forming political parties and becoming their office bearers for the period they are disqualified.
The plea, which is likely to come up hearing during the week, has also sought directions to the Centre and the Election Commission of India to frame guidelines to decriminalise the electoral system and ensure inner-party democracy as proposed by the National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC).
The petition, filed advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, said that now even a person who has been convicted for heinous crimes like murder, rape, smuggling, money laundering, loot, sedition, or dacoity can form a political party and become its president.

The petition named several top political leaders who have been convicted or have charges framed against them and were holding the highest political posts and "wielding political power."
The petition said the proliferation of political parties has become a major concern as Section 29A of the Representation of of the People Act, 1951, allows a small group of people to form a political party by making a very simple declaration.
"Presently, about 20 per cent of registered political parties contest election and remaining 80 per cent parties create excessive load on electoral system and public money," the plea said and sought implementation of the 1990 Goswami Committee on Electoral Reform.

Upadhyay also claimed that in 2004, the poll panel had proposed amendment to Section 29A, authorising it to issue apt orders regulating the registration or de-registration of political parties.