E-Paper
SC to go into ban on local parties in Lok Sabha
SC to examine a petition seeking ban on regional and state level parties members contesting LS elections.
The Supreme Court on Monday decided to examine a petition seeking a ban on the members of regional and state level parties contesting the Lok Sabha elections.
The apex court, which had earlier dismissed the petition, agreed to review its judgement and asked the petitioner to file an additional affidavit within four weeks.
The petition filed by a Chennai-based advocate MO Kandsamy Singh contended that members of state level parties should not be allowed to contest the Lok Sabha elections as their agendas and manifestoes concentrate on local issues and the national issues are pushed to the background.
The Bench comprising Chief Justice YK Sabharwal, Justice GP Mathur and Justice CK Thakker asked the Centre and the Election Commission to file their reply after the petitioner places before it the additional affidavit on the issue.
During the hearing, the Bench said "the petition may be perceived in national interest but we have to see the Constitutional scheme".
At the same time, the Bench observed "isn't it a issue to be decided by the political parties rather than the court".
The advocate, who is the President of the Communist Party of India (Dalits), an unrecognised political party, submitted that only the candidates belonging to the national parties should be allowed to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
He contended that the growth of a large number of state level political parties and their alarming representation in the Lok Sabha results in frequent defection and dissolution of the House before the completion of five-year term compelling heavy burdern on the exchequer.
