Rambabu Singh Thakur Case (2020)

Supreme Court Judgement:

• Mandatory Disclosure by Political Parties: Political parties, both at the central and state election levels, are mandated to upload detailed information on their websites regarding candidates with pending criminal cases. This information should include the nature of the offences, whether charges have been framed, details of the concerned court, case number, etc.

• Reasons for Candidate Selection: Parties must provide reasons for selecting candidates with pending criminal cases, along with explanations as to why individuals without criminal antecedents were not chosen. These reasons should be based on the qualifications, achievements, and merit of the candidates, rather than mere electability.

• Publication Requirement: The disclosed information must also be published in one local vernacular newspaper and one national newspaper, as well as on the official social media platforms of the political party, including Facebook and Twitter.

Impact of the Judgement:

• Election Commission's Action: Following the judgement, the Election Commission communicated the directives to all recognized political parties, mandating compliance.

• Introduction of Form C-7: The Election Commission introduced Form C-7, requiring political parties to provide detailed information about selected candidates with criminal backgrounds. This step enhances transparency in candidate selection and informs voters about the criminal antecedents of candidates.