Along with massively growing corruption, the dangerous trend of criminalising politics is eroding the foundations of our democratic system of government.
Criminalization of politics
- Criminals become lawmakers: Criminals get involved in politics, run for office, and even win seats in the national and state legislatures. When discussing election changes, the criminalization of politics is the main topic of discussion among the general public.
- Criminal nexus: This occurs when politicians and criminals work together.
Reasons for criminalization of politics
- Political control of state institutions: Political control of state institutions, corruption, vote-bank politics, and, most importantly, legal system flaws are all factors in the growing trend of criminalising politics.
- Inaction on the part of officials: If the bureaucracy is heavily influenced by criminals, we cannot expect it to operate with probity or honesty. When, for example, criminals, gangsters, or mafia dons become the political bosses of bureaucrats and manipulate the system to further their own agendas, good governance is severely undermined.
- Accepting corruption: In such a situation, the bureaucratic system stops opposing corruption and frequently welcomes it in order to carry out the demands of corrupt political bosses and further its own objectives.
Effects of criminalization of politics
- Limited voter options for electing a candidate to the state legislature or parliament impede free and fair elections. It goes against the democratic ideal of free and fair elections, which is its cornerstone.
- Unhealthy democratic practise: The main issue is that lawbreakers now have the power to enact laws, which has an impact on how well the democratic process can produce decent governance. These unwholesome democratic tendencies portray an unfavourable picture of the state institutions of India and the calibre of its elected officials.
- Greater circulation of illicit funds: This also contributes to increased corruption in society and interference with public officials’ work during and after elections.
- Violence culture: It brings about a culture of violence in society, sets a poor example for youth to follow, and erodes public confidence in democracy as a form of government.
- Institutional deterioration: This widespread illness in our political system is taking on malignant proportions. As a result, the fundamental idea of a democratic system is undermined and the three main pillars of our democracy—the legislative, judicial, and executive branches—become gradually weaker.
Steps to be taken
- Rapid legal action: The political system will be rid of both corrupt and criminal elements if the legal system is moved along quickly.
- Political agreement is required: It is past time for all political parties to come together and reach an agreement on how to keep criminals out of the system, especially those who face major charges like kidnapping, rape, murder, severe corruption, and crimes against women.
- Vohra committee’s caution: By warning that “certain political figures become the leaders of these gangs/armed senas and, over the years, get themselves elected to local bodies, state assemblies, and the national Parliament,” the Vohra Committee, which the Center established in 1993, sounded a note of caution. This occurred almost thirty years ago.
Efforts by Supreme court and Executive
- Disclosure of criminal histories: The Court declared in 2002 that every candidate running for office must disclose both his financial and criminal histories in addition to his educational background. It must be acknowledged that the mandated disclosure of assets and pending criminal charges in self-sworn affidavits to the EC before elections has increased transparency to some extent.
- Creation of special courts: In response to these directives, the Union government launched a plan in 2017 to create 12 special courts for a year to expedite the adjudication of criminal cases involving MPs and MLAs. Since then, the apex court has issued numerous directives, including one requesting that the Centre form a monitoring committee to look into the factors contributing to the delay in these cases’ investigations.
- Addressing the backlog of cases: The number of pending cases continues to be a source of great concern; in fact, the Supreme Court was informed in February 2022 that the backlog of criminal cases pending against current and former MLAs and MPs had reached close to 5,000 by the end of December 2021, according to media reports.
@the-end
When it comes to a variety of offences that are serious and horrific in character, there cannot be any mercy shown to corrupt individuals and criminals in public life. Only by accelerating trials and the legal process through a time-limited justice delivery system can we purge our public life of this pervasive sickness.