Candidates required to publish criminal history: Haryana CEO

Haryana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pankaj Agarwal said political parties must publish criminal histories of their candidates contesting the Assembly elections, adding that, such information should also be made available on their official websites.

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He added candidates with criminal history were also required to convey the information in the newspapers and through television channels on three occasions during the campaign period.

“A party that sets up candidates with criminal antecedents is also required to put out information about their criminal background, both on its website and in newspapers and television channels on three occasions. The information should also be published in one local vernacular newspaper and one national paper, and on the official social media platforms of the political party, including Facebook and X,” Agarwal said.

He said it was mandatory for parties to upload on their website detailed information regarding candidates with pending criminal cases, the reasons for their selection and why other individuals without criminal antecedents could not be selected as candidates. The reasons behind selection should include qualifications, achievements and merit, and not mere ‘winnability’ in the polls.

The details have to be published within 48 hours of the selection of the candidate. The party concerned shall then submit a report of compliance with these directions to the Election Commission (EC) within 72 hours of the selection of the candidate. If a political party failed to submit such compliance report, the EC should bring such non-compliance to the notice of the Supreme Court as being in contempt of its directions, Agarwal said.

Agarwal added the parties were to publish the information on the homepage of their websites. It will also become necessary now to have on the homepage a caption reading ‘candidates with criminal antecedents’.

He said the information about criminal background would have to be published through television channels and newspapers thrice, within first four days of the date of withdrawal of nominations, between the fifth to eight day and from the ninth day till the last day of the campaign.

The CEO while directing the District Electoral Officers, said videography of all important elections-related activities in the respective districts would be carried out. Adequate numbers of video and digital cameras, as well as camera teams, should be arranged for the purpose, Agarwal added.

He said videography would be done for various activities such as filing and scrutinising of nomination papers, allocation of election symbols, preparation and storage of electronic voting machines, important public meetings and processions during campaigns, the process of sending postal ballots, the voting process at identified sensitive polling stations, storage of polled EVMs and VVPATs, and the counting of votes. Besides, CCTV cameras should be installed at key border checkpoints and static checkpoints for effective surveillance and monitoring, he said, adding that he had directed that 100 per cent webcasting should be arranged at all polling stations in the state.