Candidates need to declare pending criminal cases for participation in Gurudwara elections

New Delhi [India], January 2 (ANI): Adhering to the directives of the Supreme Court of India, the Gurdwara Election Directorate of the Delhi government is working towards enhancing transparency in the election process, an official statement said.
According to the statement, specifically, this initiative focuses on identifying pending criminal cases against candidates and ensuring public awareness through various channels.
The Supreme Court emphasizes political parties and the Election Commission of India to bring transparency into the electoral process. The said decision is not related to the Gurdwara elections governed by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1971 and the regulations made under it.
In line with the commitment to transparency, the Gurdwara Election Directorate of the Delhi government has been directed to amend the rules as necessary.
Every candidate willing to participate in the Gurudwara elections will have to fill out a form provided by the Election Commission. In this form, it is mandatory to provide information, specifically in bold letters, about any pending criminal case against the candidate.
Candidates desiring to contest elections on a ticket from a political party must inform the party about any pending criminal case against them. Political parties are obligated to publish this information on their website, ensuring it reaches the public, the statement added.
To increase public awareness, both candidates and political parties should issue announcements in widely circulated newspapers within the area. Additionally, they must provide extensive publicity through electronic media channels to ensure voters are well-informed about the candidate's background.
Regarding this, Delhi's Gurudwara Elections Minister Raaj Kumar Anand stated, "The Gurdwara Election Directorate is actively taking steps to amend the rules as necessary to implement these transparent measures. This proactive approach demonstrates a commitment to upholding democratic values and empowering voters with necessary information." (ANI)