IAS MAINS POLITICAL SCIENCE Q.9 What do you understand by decriminalization of politics? Critically examine the steps taken by government in this regard. Ans. Politics is the concept hich provides the manner and rules to govern a state and country. Our Constitution provides that the representatives elected by the citizens of our tc country will govern it. But today people who are in politics appear to be criminals and it seems that politics has become synonym for crime. The weeding out of this criminal element from the politics is known as decriminalization of politics. Criminalization of politics means moulding politics in criminal shape and this have been allowed to completely unchecked in India. This can be assesed from the fact that 76 out of 543 members elected in 2009 have been charged with serious criminal offences such as murder, rape and dacoity. The second administrative commission even noted that the opportunity to influence crime investigations and covert policemen from being potential adversaries to allies is the irresistable magnet drawing criminals to politics. Now the government realising the threat by this menace , has been taking some steps to wipe it off like -Amendment of section 8 (4) of Representation of People’s Act 1951 which removes the exemption given to sitting MPs, MLAs, MLCs who have been convicted of criminal offences and disqualifies them from their membership of the legislature. – The code of criminal Procedure Bill 2013 which provides for improvement in accountability in the appointment of public prosecutors so as to enable them to function independently of any external influences. -Also fast track courts are to be established for the trial of cases involving criminal charges against elected representatives. – Recently Supreme Court has ordered Election Commission to introduce negative voting (NOTA) in order to provide voters with options to reject candidate having criminal charges against them. But still a lot to be done in India to break criminal-political nexus which has moved all the ideals of democracy and this is possible only by the positive willingness of policy makers and by proper awareness among the masses.
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 10:16:00 +0000
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