Some priorities for political reforms are highlighted in the following paragraphs. These reforms are likely to strengthen the governance st...
Some priorities for political reforms are highlighted in the following paragraphs. These reforms are likely to strengthen the governance structure, alleviate poverty, and make the government more accountable for its performance. The suggestions are few in number and have no party-specific agenda, either on the right or the left.
Criminals in politics
A related urgently required political reform is to reduce the attractiveness of politics as a career of choice by people with criminal records. There is a natural reluctance among the investigating agencies and ministries of government to speed up investigations and the prosecution of people who are leaders of political parties and/or members of the Cabinet.
According to the statistical survey of elections to the Lok Sabha in recent elections, it has been found that nearly 20 per cent of the candidates surveyed, cutting across party lines (excluding independent candidates), had criminal antecedents. In the present Lok Sabha, which has 543 seats in all, well over 100 members had criminal cases pending against them.
The present incentive for people who have criminal cases pending in higher courts of appeal (either the High Court or the Supreme Court) should be effectively reversed by giving such cases the highest priority if the concerned person...
