Purity Of Elections A Matter Of National Importance: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court said purity of election at all levels, be it the Centre, State or municipal corporation or a panchayat is a matter of national importance.

False declaration with regard to the assets of a candidate, his/her spouse, or dependents, constitutes corrupt practice irrespective of the impact of such a false declaration on the election of the candidate, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday.

The Supreme Court said purity of election at all levels, be it the Centre, State or municipal corporation or a panchayat is a matter of national importance in which a uniform policy is desirable in the interest of all the States.

"A false declaration with regard to the assets of a candidate, his/her spouse or dependents, constitutes corrupt practice irrespective of the impact of such a false declaration on the election of the candidate. It may be presumed that a false declaration impacts the election," a bench headed by Chief Justice U U Lalit said.   

The observations came while dismissing an appeal against an order passed by the Karnataka High Court with regard to the election of a candidate in municipal corporation polls in 2018.