The Concept of Criminalization of Politics in India

Abstract

The Indian democracy is one of the largest in the world yet the internal political system is infested with some of the very crude problem that other counties of the world have long overcome. It is very important that democracy forms the basic structure of the society. Effort must be made to make society democratic. Democracy should be the value system of Indian citizens. The responsibility of survival of democracy can’t be shifted on the state institutions alone. The citizens have an equal part to play in the healthy functioning of the democracy. Hence, there is no doubt that electoral reforms are the need of the hour in order to attain sustainable democratic India. The objective of electoral reforms is the distillation of General Will. There must be no place for the criminals in the sacred electoral process of obtaining General Will. Electoral system should be able to attract the best talent in the country. Elections should not be seen as mere rituals but the pathways of democracy. Honesty shouldn’t be a disincentive but instead a reward in the electoral system. For a true decriminalization of politics, the instant need is to abolish the patronage to criminals which is often given by politicians and political parties. A strong political will is required on the part of government to decriminalize the entire political system by taking stringent measures as well as by enactment of required legislation. Supreme Court has also held that free and fair elections are a part of the basic structure of the Constitution. There is an urgent need to break the criminal-political nexus. Unless some decisive action is taken soon, the public will lose all faith in politics, politicians and democracy itself. This will do irreparable damage to our republic. Decisions with regard to electoral reforms should be strictly followed. There is need for legislation to regulate party funds, distribution and expenditure during non- election and election times. Maintenance, audit and publication of regular accounts by the political parties should be available for open inspection. There is also a need of setting up special courts for trying the cases of criminalization of politics. Keeping in view the ever deteriorating standards of politics, it would be more desirable to try all cases of politicians by special courts. It will help maintain sanctity and purity of elections. This composition strives to highlight the problems that persist in the Indian Democracy with respect to politics and what has been done till now to curb the same. Some suggestions and solutions have also been put forward towards minimizing the problems that have cropped up in recent times.