Patna, Jan 05: In a bid to keep away absconding criminals from participating in the February assembly elections in Bihar, Patna High Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities to furnish their list to the court and returning officers by Friday so that they could be arrested, while filing nominations for the polls.
"Law breakers should not be allowed to become law makers," a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Nagendra Rai and Justice SN Hussain said while hearing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) of the Indian Medical Association (Bihar).
It directed the superintendents of police (SPs) and respective returning officers to furnish to the court the list of lawbreakers on January 7, against whom non-bailable arrest warrants and property attachment orders are pending.
The court said that with the list of elusive criminals available with the returning officers, they could be caught while filing nominations for the polls.
Keeping the absconding criminals from directly participating in the polls would help in the conduct of free, fair and fearless polls in the state, it said.
The bench asked state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) KC Saha to be present before the court on January 7, when it would pass further orders.
Bureau Report
